Warning: This article contains spoilers for Death on the Nile and Murder on the Orient Express.
Although he has only made two Christie adaptations to date, it is becoming clear that Kenneth Branagh’s portrayals of Poirot’s adventures are growing more and more popular with audiences. From Murder on the Orient Express to Death on the Nile, the actor/director is quickly developing a distinct style that suitably matches the atmosphere of Christie’s novels.
Although the very point of these films is their unique and distinct roster of characters, Branagh proved with Death on the Nile that he is not afraid to bring back recurring characters with the inclusion of Tom Bateman’s Mr. Bouc. In his next adventure, it is entirely possible that Poirot will meet another old friend along the way.
Andrew Katchadourian
Ali Fazal’s portrayal of family lawyer Andrew Katchadourian was certainly one of the highlights of Branagh’s Death on the Nile, and he would certainly prove to be an interesting character to return for Poirot’s next adventure. Although he was directly related to the particular case of Linnet Doyle, there is nothing to say he could not have more in his history to make him relevant for Poirot.
The mystery and unpredictability of the character are exactly what made him such an engaging part of Death on the Nile‘s narrative, so seeing him return would definitely be a surprise for audiences. Regardless, he certainly seems like the kind of character whose past may see him tangled up with Poirot again.
Hector MacQueen
Despite having been involved in the murder of Samuel Ratchett, there is definitely a reason to believe that Poirot could call upon the assistance of Josh Gad’s Hector MacQueen in the future. The character was one of the most interesting in Murder on the Orient Express, and his complex personality would make him an interesting addition to a new mystery.
Gad’s performance was also one of the most noteworthy in that film, departing from his usual comedic style and adopting a much more serious and earnest character. Seeing the actor return to this character with a greater role in the story would give him a chance to explore possibilities that his comedic characters do not allow.
Euphemia Bouc
Although her son was killed during the course of Death on the Nile, there is nothing to say that Euphemia herself could not return to Poirot’s life in the future. After all, it was Euphemia that called Poirot to Egypt in the first place, so the two clearly have a close relationship.
Death on the Nile takes many things from the original book, but plenty of concepts are completely new, so Branagh has already proven that he is willing to divert from the source material in order to include returning franchise characters. Euphemia Bouc would be a perfect fit for this position.
Dr. Arbuthnot
Leslie Odom Jr.’s performance as the mysterious Dr. Arbuthnot was undeniably one of the strongest aspects of Murder on the Orient Express and kept audiences interested when the story may have been lagging behind. The film may not be the strongest adaptation of Agatha Christie’s work, but Odom Jr.’s character is one that perfectly fits into her world.
Arbuthnot makes it clear throughout the course of the film that he has a complex and unpredictable history, which could certainly be used to drag him back into the sights of Poirot in the future. Unlike Bouc, it is unlikely that Arbuthnot will return as a friend to the detective, but he could definitely be involved in a future case.
Mrs. Bowers
One of the aspects that was not explored as deeply as it could have been in Death on the Nile was the relationship between Mrs. Bowers and Marie van Schuyler. It is mentioned that the two are in love, but then, the story becomes much more focused on Linnet’s murder and seems to forget this plot point.
This relationship could be an interesting aspect to explore in a future film, as it makes for an engaging diversion from the constantly unraveling mystery at the heart of Christie’s stories. It could add another necessary layer of humanity to a story that is overly focused on the death and betrayal at its center.
Hildegarde Schmidt
Although her role in Murder on the Orient Express was only small, there is still plenty to suggest that Olivia Colman’s Fräulein Schmidt could be an interesting and compelling character to dissect in a future story. Poirot certainly seems to show sympathy and pity towards her during their journey together, so it would make sense for him to help her out one day.
There is plenty to explore with her character, such as the seemingly complex relationship between her and Judi Dench’s Natalia Dragomiroff. A potential story featuring both Colman and Dench’s characters would undoubtedly have plenty of drama and excitement to draw in audiences.
Rosalie Otterbourne
Despite the confrontation between Otterbourne and Poirot in Death on the Nile, there still seems to be a level of mutual respect and admiration that the two have for each other, making it not impossible that she would return to his practice in the future. Plus, her relationship with Mr. Bouc could act as a fitting entry point for her to reemerge in Poirot’s life one day.
Letitia Wright provides one of the best performances in Death on the Nile, and it would almost be a waste to see this character not explored to her full potential. One of the best aspects of the film was the return of Mr. Bouc (because he was so entertaining in the previous film), so her return could serve the same purpose in Branagh’s next outing.
Mary Debenham
Daisy Ridley’s Mary Debenham is one of the less present characters in Murder on the Orient Express, but she is still extremely important to the way the story unfolds. There is a point in which she becomes the #1 suspect in Poirot’s investigation, but, even then, she manages to convince the detective that the crime is much more complex than he could imagine.
Debenham’s character is fairly important in Poirot’s personal journey throughout the film, as he begins to understand and empathize with each character’s motivations to the point that he actually forgives them all for their involvement in the crime. Debenham’s return could mark an interesting personal conflict for Poirot, which would be interesting to see play out on screen.
Dr. Windlesham
In a role that is completely different from anything audiences have ever seen him in, Russell Brand became one of the standout stars of Death on the Nile. His performance as Dr. Windlesham was one of the film’s strongest and most compelling aspects, and it would be a waste to never see this character return again.
Although Windlesham’s story is very closely linked with that of Jacqueline de Bellefort, there is nothing to say that his medical practice could not lead him back to Poirot and make him an extremely useful asset in the detective’s next adventure. There are plenty of other great Poirot mysteries that Branagh could tackle next, and they would all benefit from the addition of a character like Windlesham.
Gerhard Hardman
Despite not playing as large of a role in Murder on the Orient Express as some audiences would have liked, Willem Dafoe’s Gerhard Hardman was undoubtedly one of the most memorable characters from the film. His entertaining personality and complex backstory made the film much more gripping whenever he appeared on-screen.
It would make sense for Hardman to return at some point in the future, as the film makes it pretty clear that his story is not finished. There are aspects of Hardman’s life that are still unknown, and his return could prove to be a conflicting and polarizing moment for Poirot on his next adventure.
