The BBC and BritBox have announced the cast joining Edward Bluemel in Hercule, a new six-part drama exploring how Agatha Christie’s legendary Belgian detective became the world’s greatest investigator. Bluemel, known for My Lady Jane and A Discovery of Witches, will lead the series as a younger Hercule Poirot. The origin story is expected to begin filming soon, primarily in Liverpool, ahead of its arrival on BBC One and BBC iPlayer in the UK and BritBox in North America in 2027.
Joining Bluemel are Henry Ashton (A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms, A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder), James D’Arcy (Oppenheimer, Constellation), Calvin Demba (Supacell), Phil Dunning (Smoggie Queens), Jack Gleeson (House of Guinness), Tamsin Greig (Riot Women, Friday Night Dinner), James Nesbitt (Cold Feet, Run Away), Guy Remmers (The Buccaneers), Rebecca Rittenhouse (His & Hers, Maggie) and Mawaan Rizwan (Juice, The Split Up). Details about their characters have not yet been announced.
The series is described as an intimate study of Poirot and a wider portrait of Britain between the two world wars. Its story will draw from three of Christie’s early works, introducing the detective to future friends and allies as well as one particular nemesis.
Benji Walters, whose credits include Code of Silence, The Leopard and Obsession, has written the adaptation. Jonny Campbell will direct the opening two episodes, with Doctor Who director Chanya Button leading the next block and Bridgerton filmmaker Alrick Riley directing the final two instalments.
Charlie Palmer serves as series producer. Walters and Campbell are among the executive producers alongside James Prichard for Agatha Christie Limited, Rebecca Durbin and Damien Timmer for Mammoth Screen, Nick Lambon for the BBC, and Robert Schildhouse, Jon Farrar and Stephen Nye for BritBox.
Mammoth Screen previously produced BBC adaptations including And Then There Were None and Murder Is Easy. Company founder Damien Timmer also worked as an executive producer on ITV’s long-running Agatha Christie’s Poirot, which starred David Suchet.
Poirot remains one of the most recognisable detectives in fiction, with Christie’s novels featuring the character selling more than 750 million copies. Hercule will return to the beginning of his story rather than adapting another case from his established career.
For CultureCues, Edward Bluemel already felt like a fantastic choice for a younger Poirot, and this newly announced cast gives the series even more reason to watch. We are especially happy to see Phil Dunning joining after loving him in Smoggie Queens. Exploring how Poirot became the detective audiences know could bring something genuinely different to Christie’s world, particularly with future allies and a major nemesis waiting to enter his life. Consider our little grey cells fully engaged!
Hercule will premiere on BBC One and BBC iPlayer in the UK and BritBox in North America in 2027.
Nikki Murray is a UK-based writer, screenwriter and founder & editor of CultureCues, covering film, television, music and pop culture. Her work focuses on storytelling and the moments shaping modern entertainment.