The BBC has released a first-look image of Edward Bluemel in his new role as Hercule Poirot, sparking mixed reactions from fans. The actor, known for roles in My Lady Jane and Killing Eve, is set to play the youngest-ever version of the iconic Agatha Christie detective in an upcoming six-part BBC series titled Hercule.
Bluemel follows in the footsteps of Kenneth Branagh, Peter Ustinov, and most famously, David Suchet, who played Poirot in the ITV series that ran from 1989 to 2013. In the first-look image, Bluemel wears a classic suit, fixes an intense gaze at the camera, holds a hat in hand, and sports Poirot's trademark moustache.
Edward Bluemel's casting and the BBC's tease
Upon his casting announcement, Bluemel shared: "I feel very lucky to have been trusted with such an iconic character who has been played by so many great actors. I can't wait to continue Hercule's legacy."
The BBC previously teased: "The series is an intimate study of Hercule the man and an epic portrait of Britain between the wars. The series takes a magnifying glass to three of Christie’s most celebrated stories, while also charting Hercule’s burgeoning friendship with Captain Arthur Hastings, his early encounters with Scotland Yard’s James Japp, and introducing him to one particular nemesis…"
Fans divided over youthful Poirot
Reactions to the first-look image have been split. Some fans praised the casting, with one calling him "perfect" and another saying he "looks scrumptious." Actor Richard Armitage also hailed it as "Fantastic casting as one of my favourite characters."
However, several fans issued the same complaint that Edward, 33, looks too young to play the character. One fumed: "Love Poirot but why do the have to have them so young these days just to pander to the younger viewer who don’t watch tv." Another commented: "Nobody wants an attractive Poirot," while someone else said: "He's no David Suchet."
Producers and BBC respond
James Prichard, executive producer for Agatha Christie Limited, said: “My father had the privilege of working with David Suchet for nearly 25 years, and I now have the good fortune of being able to share my great grandmother’s brilliant stories with a new generation of viewers. Edward Bluemel is an extremely talented performer and will make a great addition to the long line of actors that have played this celebrated character, aided and abetted by Benji Walters’ thoughtful scripts. I cannot wait to see Edward on screen as Hercule Poirot.”
Rebecca Durbin and Damien Timmer, executive producers for Mammoth Screen, said: “Edward Bluemel and Benji Walters are both extraordinary talents and it is a joy to see them take on this beloved character and make him their own. Hercule is both a love letter to Agatha Christie and a fascinating new perspective on an iconic figure - we hope viewers will find it as arresting as we do!”
Lindsay Salt, Director of BBC Drama, added: “Hercule Poirot is one of the greatest and most loved characters of all time, and bringing him back to the BBC is a real privilege. From the first moments of Edward’s audition we knew we’d found the perfect actor for Hercule, with a performance that feels both fresh and exciting, yet quintessentially Agatha Christie’s Hercule Poirot. We can’t wait for viewers to meet him.”
