‘Haunting in Venice’ Producer Talks More Poirot Movies, Tina Fey’s Transatlantic Dream Role
variety.comMatt Donnelly Senior Film Writer Kenneth Branagh’s latest Agatha Christie adaptation “A Haunting in Venice” has been rattling North American theaters for a week now, signaling the start to spooky season with a packed ensemble cast featuring the likes of Tina Fey, Jamie Dornan, Oscar winner Michelle Yeoh and “Yellowstone” star Kelly Reilly.
Branagh’s players (and the director himself) weren’t able speak on behalf of the moody chamber piece due to the WGA and SAG-AFTRA strikes.
Variety caught up with veteran producer Judy Hofflund (who made the first two Poirot films with Branagh, “Murder on the Orient Express” and “Death on the Nile”) to discuss Fey’s journey to leading lady status in a film from this era, as well as the future of Branagh’s mustachioed sleuth. “Venice” was greenlit shortly after Disney’s acquisition of 20th Century Fox.
How did the release of “Death on the Nile” and the new regime take to the franchise? Judy Hofflund: The second film was sadly released during COVID time, but I think that it did so well on streaming that it was a real boost of confidence for [Disney].
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