Patrick Doyle confirmed in a recent interview with BBC Radio 3 that is reteaming with Kenneth Branagh on the upcoming new film adaptation of Murder on the Orient Express. The film stars Branagh as detective Hercule Poirot, alongside Johnny Depp, Michelle Pfeiffer, Daisy Ridley, Judi Dench, Lucy Boynton, Tom Bateman, Derek Jacobi, Michael Peņa and Leslie Odom Jr. The movie is based on the novel of the same title by Agatha Christie and follows Poirot as he investigates the murder of a wealthy American traveling on a train. Michael Green (Blade Runner 2, Green Lantern) has written the screenplay. Branagh is also producing the project with Ridley Scott (Gladiator, Alien, The Martian), Simon Kinberg (X-Men: Days of Future Past, Deadpool) and Mark Gordon (Steve Jobs, Grey’s Anatomy). Doyle has previously scored most of Branagh’s directorial efforts, including Henry V, Much Ado About Nothing, Hamlet, Thor and last year’s Cinderella. Murder on the Orient Express is set to be released on November 22, 2017 by 20th Century Fox.
Doyle’s recent projects also include the period drama A United Kingdom directed by Amma Asante and starring David Oyelowo and Rosamund Pike. The movie recently premiered at the Toronto Film Festival and will be released in the UK later this year, followed by a domestic release on February 17, 2017 by Fox Searchlight. The composer’s upcoming projects also include the animated feature Sgt. Stubby: An American Hero.
This is wonderful news. The collaboration between Patrick Doyle and Kenneth Branagh is amazing. Of all the works they have made, my favorite scores are “Henry V”, “Hamlet”, “Much ado about nothing”, “Frankenstein”, “Thor”, “Jack Ryan: Shadow Recruit” and “Cinderella”.
Patrick is a good choice (he’s good on stirring themes) but he has a hard act to follow with Richard Rodney Bennett’s score for the earlier version. The soundtrack music as the camera tracks along the Orient Express while it begins its journey is on my top 10 list – and near the top.