It is no longer the heady days of the late 2000s, early 10s. In those days,Johnny Deppwas a box office superstar and his movies routinely grossed over a billion dollars worldwide. The last time Depp was in a film that grossed over $100 million, it was a bit part inInto the Woods. The last time he led a film that grossed over $100 million, it was 2011’sPirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides. While he may hope that thePiratesfranchise will revitalize his fortunes next year withPirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales, the performance of this year’sAlice Through the Looking Glassdoesn’t signal that people are particularly eager to see Johnny Depp leading films.
Which is why it’s a smart move that Depp is in talks to join the ensemble feature,Murder on the Orient Express. DirectorKenneth Branaghis playing the lead role of detective Hercule Poirot. For those who are unfamiliar with Agatha Christie’s classic mystery novel, it revolves around the murder of an American businessman on a train, and it’s up to the intrepid Poirot to find the culprit. According toTHR, Depp will play Ratchett, the man who is murdered.
That’s not to say that supporting roles are now the future of Depp’s career. He’s also signed on to lead the filmLabyrinth, in which he’ll play a detective investigating the murders of Tupac and Biggie. He’s also attached to theBrett RatnerfilmThe Libertine, which is about the Dominique Strauss-Kahn scandal.
Outside of Depp,Orient Expressis lining up an outstanding cast of actors. THR reports thatLeslie Odom Jr.(Hamilton) is playing Doctor Arbuthnot andTom Bateman(Da Vinci’s Demons) is set to play the Frenchman Bouc. The film has also addedMichelle Pfeifferas “Mrs. Hubbard, a glamorous and opinionated passenger with a secret”,Daisy Ridleyas “Mary Debenham, a working class woman in love with Arbuthnot”,Judi Denchas “Princess Dragomiroff, who hails from Russian royalty”, andMichael Penaas “a Cuban passenger named Marquez.”Lucy Boynton(Sing Street) andDerek Jacobi(Gladiator) are also on board.
Filming is set to begin this November in London from a script byBlade Runner 2scribeMichael Green.
