First-look image of John Malkovich as Hercule Poirot in BBC One's The ABC Murders

A first-look image of John Malkovich as Hercule Poirot in the new Mammoth Screen and Agatha Christie Limited adaptation of The ABC Murders for BBC One has been released, as further guest cast are announced.

John Malkovich says: "I'm honored to have been asked to play Hercule Poirot. It's a role that's been played by a number of excelllent actors, and I am enjoying the numerous challenges this part presents. I have great respect for Sarah Phelps' screenplay and hope to do both she and Agatha Christie's creation some measure of justice."

The producers have also revealed that 2018 Olivier Award winning actress Shirley Henderson (Harry Potter, Happy Valley), Kevin McNally (Pirates Of The Caribbean, Legend), Gregor Fisher (Love Actually) and Poldark's Jack Farthing (The Riot Club) will also join the previously announced all-star cast of Malkovich, Rupert Grint, Tara Fitzgerald and Andrew Buchan.

Also joining the cast in guest roles are Karen Westwood (The Alienist), Lizzy McInnerny (The Crown), Anya Chalotra (Wanderlust), Eve Austin (In The Flesh), Christopher Villiers (Hetty Feather), Suzanne Packer (Keeping Faith), Michael Shaeffer (Rogue One), Cyril Nri (Cucumber), Henry Goodman (Genius: Einstein), Tamzin Griffin (A Fantastic Fear Of Everything), Ian Pirie (Sunset Song), Shane Attwooll (Dark River) and Terenia Edwards (Peter Rabbit). Full list of cast and characters they play are below.

Bafta nominated writer Sarah Phelps returns to explore the 20th Century through Christie's work. This time the setting is the 1930s, a time when the nation is dangerously divided and suspicion and hatred are on the rise. In the midst of this, Poirot faces a serial killer known only as A.B.C. First the killer strikes in Andover, then Bexhill. As the murder count rises, the only clue is the copy of The ABC Railway Guide at each crime scene. Poirot's investigations are thwarted at every turn by an enemy determined to outsmart him. If Poirot is to match his nemesis then everything about him will be called into question: his authority, his integrity, his past, his identity.

Filming for The ABC Murders is underway and is directed by Alex Gabassi (The Frankenstein Chronicles, El Hipnotizador) and produced by Bafta nominated Farah Abushwesha (Irreplaceable You, The Party).

The ABC Murders is a Mammoth Screen and Agatha Christie Limited production for BBC One. The executive producers are Sarah Phelps, Damien Timmer and Helen Ziegler for Mammoth Screen, James Prichard and Basi Akpabio for Agatha Christie Limited and Elizabeth Kilgarriff for BBC. Amazon Prime Video will be airing the series in the U.S.

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Full cast of characters:

Alice Asher - Tamzin Griffin
Benny Grew - Neil Hurst
Betty - Eve Austin
Bunce - Shane Attwooll
Capstick - Suzanne Parker
Crome - Rupert Grint
Cust - Eamon Farren
Dexter Dooley - Gregor Fisher
Donald Fraser - Jack Farthing
Father Anslem - Cyril Nri
Franklin Clarke - Andrew Buchan
Hercule Poirot - John Malkovich
Japp - Kevin McNally
Jenny Barnard - Lizzie McInnery
Lady Hermione Clarke - Tara Fitzgerald
Lily Marbury - Anya Chalotra
Megan - Bronwyn James
Miss Leigh - Terenia Edwards
Miss Rose Marbury - Shirley Henderson
Mrs Kirkham - Karen Westwood
Peter Asher - Ian Pirie
Prynne - Henry Goodman
Sir Carmichael - Christopher Francis Villiers
Thora - Freya Mavor
Yelland - Michael Shaffer