David Suchet will return as Hercule Poirot and complete Agatha Christie’s canon of stories about the fastidious and brilliant Belgian detective.
The Poirot films which will go into production during 2012 are: Labours of Hercules; Dead Man’s Folly; The Big Four; Elephants Can Remember and Curtain.
Mathew Prichard, Chairman of Agatha Christie Limited and Agatha Christie’s grandson said: “It is tremendous to renew our partnership with ITV and David Suchet as Poirot, and these five films will be a magnificent climax to over 20 years of David’s portrayal of Hercule Poirot.”
“I’m more than delighted to be reprising my role as Poirot. It’s been my life’s ambition to bring this amazing canon of works to completion on ITV,” said Suchet.
“Poirot is a brilliant, yet profoundly complicated character and I’ve always loved playing him. He’s considerate, with a love of elegance and precision, but he is also so maddeningly frustrating to play as he’s so vain and pedantic!
Suchet will be seen on screen as Poirot this Christmas when ITV broadcasts Clocks which also stars Phil Daniels as Inspector Hardcastle, aime Winstone, Tom Burke, Lesley Sharp, Geoffrey Palmer and Beatie Edney and the late Anna Massey.
The channel has also commissioned three Marple films which will again star Julia McKenzie as Miss Marple.
A Caribbean Mystery will be the first film to be shot during the summer of 2012 with two further films Endless Night and The Seven Dials Mystery produced during the autumn of 2012.
McKenzie said it was “a huge privilege” to play famous role, adding: “After such a successful career I was content to play guest roles, but then Marple came along. How could I not play her?”