Angelina Jolie may return to Malta for touted ‘Murder on the Orient Express’ remake

Actress touted for Kenneth Branagh remake of ‘Orient Express’ was last in Malta to film movie By The Sea entirely on Gozo

Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt starred in By the Sea, which was filmed in Gozo in 2014
Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt starred in By the Sea, which was filmed in Gozo in 2014

Actress Angelina Jolie could return to Malta for a brief stretch in the not so distance future to shoot another movie, after the Hollywood Reporter said the actress was in talks about starring in Kenneth Branagh’s remake of Agatha Christie’s classic novel Murder on the Orient Express.

Shooting is expected to begin in November in London and then move to Malta.

Jolie would play Mrs Harriet Hubbard, a role played by actress Lauren Bacall in the 1974 version of the film.

Christie’s book, published in 1934, revolves around a murder on board the famous train. The film follows Belgian detective Poirot who’s tasked with solving the case — in which a number of passengers could potentially be the murderer.

Variety reported in 2013 that Fox was developing the project as a remake of Sidney Lumet’s 1974 movie, which starred Albert Finney as the genius detective investigating the murder of an American tycoon aboard the train.

The all-star cast of suspects included Lauren Bacall, Ingrid Bergman, Jacqueline Bisset, Colin Blakely, Sean Connery, John Gielgud, Anthony Perkins, Vanessa Redgrave and Michael York.

“Orient Express” was a commercial success, grossing $35 million in the U.S. It was also nominated for six Academy Awards, earning Bergman, who portrayed a Swedish missionary, her third Oscar — her first in the supporting category.

Christie’s novel was adapted again for a 2001 CBS show starring Alfred Molina and Leslie Caron.

Branagh’s directing credits include “Henry V,” “Thor” and “Cinderella.” Jolie starred in and directed Universal’s 2015 drama “By the Sea” opposite spouse Brad Pitt.

The news about “Orient Express” was first reported by the Daily Mail.