Kenneth Branangh’s Death on the Nile just got a new trailer, well over a year (August 19, 2020) after its first teaser. The film is still set for theatrical release on February 11, 2022. Moreover, while the trailer and poster don’t exactly shine a spotlight on him, Armie Hammer isn’t being hidden from view.
The actor, who has faced accusations of everything from sexual assault to cannibalism (obviously the former charges are arguably more serious than the latter), has faded from public view, being replaced in a handful of projects (Jennifer Lopez’ Shotgun Wedding and a Paramount+ miniseries about the making of The Godfather) and otherwise being more-or-less finished as a viable leading man. He was never a box office draw, so if he’s lost his prestige, then he’s probably going to find himself as gainfully employed as Kevin Spacey.
Nonetheless, the movie was shot well before any reports of misbehavior. It was initially scheduled for late 2019. I’d argue Disney is correctly arguing that most general audiences won’t care all that much about the real-life scandal of one of its many cast members.
I don’t think Hammer will be doing any press for the picture, but the non-online world won’t care about Gal Gadot’s cringe worthy “Imagine” video, Letitia Wright’s alleged anti-vaccine views or any other kind of clickbait-friendly scandals that only exist within the perpetually online. Whether these off-screen scandals should matter, and that’s on a case-by-case basis, they won’t matter to folks who genuinely want to see this film.
Otherwise this should be a business-as-usual promotional tour for a film that pre-Covid was a likely hit. Murder on the Orient Express earned $100 million domestic and $355 million worldwide in late 2017, existing as a prime example of Fox’s pre-Disney run of “big movies for grown-ups” that struck me at the time as something Disney might want in its arsenal.
Alas, Fox’s 2018 line-up mostly flat-lined (save for Bohemian Rhapsody and Deadpool 2), and Disney has shown little comparative interest in turning the leftover films into theatrical hits. Of course, I’d argue Bob Chapek has shown little interest in turning Disney’s theatrical releases into theatrical hits, but I digress.
Directed by Kenneth Branagh and adapted from the Agatha Christie novel by Michael Green, Death on the Nile stars Branagh as Hercule Poirot alongside an all-star cast of potential victims and murderers including Gal Gadot, Armie Hammer, Letitia Wright, Annette Bening, Tom Bateman, Russell Brand (another apparent anti-vaxxer), Ali Fazal, Dawn French, Rose Leslie, Emma Mackey, Sophie Okonedo, Jennifer Saunders, Ann Turkel and Sarah Eve.
In a pre-Covid/non-Disney Plus world, this would have been exactly the kind of film Disney would want from 20th Century Studios. But now? I mean, I guess if it’s a hit we’ll get a threequel, but even that’s no longer a guarantee.
Death on the Nile poster
20th Century Studios and Disney
Kenneth Branagh as Hercule Poirot in 20th Century Studios’ DEATH ON THE NILE.
Photo courtesy of 20th Century Studios
Gal Gadot as Linnet Ridgeway Doyle in 20th Century Studios’ DEATH ON THE NILE.
Photo courtesy of 20th Century Studios. © 2022 20th Century Studios. All Rights Reserved.
Gal Gadot as Linnet Ridgeway Doyle and Rose Leslie as Louise in 20th Century Studios’ DEATH ON THE NILE
Photo courtesy of 20th Century Studios. © 2022 20th Century Studios. All Rights Reserved.
Kenneth Branagh as Hercule Poirot in 20th Century Studios’ DEATH ON THE NILE.
Photo courtesy of 20th Century Studios. © 2022 20th Century Studios. All Rights Reserved.
