Filmmaker Vishal Bhardwaj is all set to bring the work of English littérateur – Agatha Christie in Bollywood. He is currently developing a film franchise based on the work of the author. According to the reports, the series will feature fresh faces in the leading roles.
He told Times of India that he contacted Agatha Christie Limited (ACL), who takes the responsibility for the literary and media rights to Christie’s works, during the lockdown period. He stated,” We started discussing if we could make a movie in India. We clicked well, but it was a very long process. They offered me many novels, out of which I picked the first one.”
Talking about the collaboration, James Prichard, great grandson of Agatha Christie, and Chairman and CEO of Agatha Christie Limited, said: “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.
“He 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,” he added.
Bhardwaj added: “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. It is an honour 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.”
Bhadrdwaj has previously adapted iconic English writer Shakespeare’s Othello, Macbeth and Hamlet.
The first instalment of the franchise will narrate the story of a young heroine who is involved in investigating a murder case and for the same, she teams up with an unexpected companion.
As per the report, the first film of the series will probably go on floors in 2021. Basi Akpabio and Leo Dezoysa will be the executive producers for Agatha Christie Limited on the new films. Bhardwaj will also be co-producing through his production house.
