Filmmaker Vishal Bhardwaj is known globally for his Shakespearean trilogy – Maqbool (based on Macbeth), Omkara (based on Othello), and Haider (based on Hamlet) and now, according to a Variety exclusive, Bhardwaj is developing a film franchise based on the works of Agatha Christie which will feature an entirely new pair of lead investigators.

The first film shoot is scheduled to start in early 2021 and will focus on a young heroine’s attempt in solving a murder while also being teamed up with an unlikely companion. The cast for the same is being finalised but details about which Agatha Christie novel that Vishal Bhardwaj will be adapting has not been revealed yet.

“Agatha Christie had a tremendous skill of defining emotional chaos, dysfunctional relationships, and the turmoil in her characters while engaging us in a riveting mystery,” said Bhardwaj to Variety. “It is an honor to create an Indian franchise of a pair of young investigators looking to take over the world with their intelligence and charm. ACL have been such amazing partners and we are all excited to be on this journey.”

“I’m truly excited at the prospect of developing a new Agatha Christie film franchise in India, and am delighted to be partnering with Vishal, who is a multitalented and visionary filmmaker with a terrific track record for adapting works to create memorable pieces of cinema,” said James Prichard, the great-grandson of Christie and chair and CEO of ACL. “(Bhardwaj) has also demonstrated a real passion and understanding of my great grandmother’s characters and stories and I very much look forward to seeing where this project takes us.”

Agatha Christie is one of the most popular authors in the world with her books having sold over two billion copies worldwide in English and translations. The author also has a loyal fan following in India with films like Gumnaam, Chupi Chupi Aashey, Dhund, and Nadu Iravil based on various Christie novels.

(Header image: Vishal Bhardwaj on Instagram)