Michael Pena, Daisy Ridley and Judi Dench added to 'Murder On the Orient Express' ensemble

Image from Screen Rant

By Darian Scalamoni

            It was only yesterday that we announced that the remake of Murder On the Orient Express was looking to add Johnny Depp and Michelle Pfeiffer to the cast led by Kenneth Branagh, but this ensemble has just gotten even better. According to THR, in addition to Depp and Pfeiffer officially signing on, Daisy Ridley, Michael Pena and Judi Dench have been added to the already stellar cast.

            The story centers around a murder on the famous train and showcases detective Hercule Poirot who must solve the case whilst dealing with treacherous passengers throughout. The film is a remake of 1974 movie of the same name. That version was directed by Sidney Lumet and was nominated for six Academy Awards in 1975. Branagh, in addition to directing the film, stars as Poirot. Depp will play Ratchett, the man who is murdered. Pfeiffer will play Mrs. Hubbard, a glamorous and opinionated passenger with a secret. Ridley will play Mary Debenham, a working-class woman in love with another passenger on the train. Dench and Pena round out the group of actors playing Princess Dragomiroff and Marquez, respectively. Tom Bateman, Leslie Odom Jr., Lucy Boynton and Derek Jacobi have also been announced to be joining the cast.

            This seems to be a fantastic cast and looks to be an exciting movie. Daisy Ridley is best known for starring in blockbuster Star Wars: The Force Awakens as Rey but has many films on the docket including Kolma, Chaos Walking, Peter Rabbit and of course, Star Wars: Episode VIII which will be released on December 15^th, 2017. Dench can be seen currently in theaters in Tim Burton’s Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children, while Pena will be seen in Collateral Beauty alongside Will Smith, Edward Norton and Helen Mirren at the end of the year.