Harry Potter fame Rupert Grint and two 'The Witcher' stars unite for an Agatha Christie inspired series, The ABC Murders

The BBC’s 2018 take on The ABC Murders: a stroll through the classic with a modern twist. In 2018, the BBC dove headfirst into Agatha Christie’s universe with a three-part miniseries based on The ABC Murders (1936). The gamble? To refresh a classic mystery without losing its soul, but with a cast that felt plucked from a nerd’s wildest dreams. The result was a plot balancing vintage suspense and contemporary flair, hooking both die-hard fans and curious newcomers.

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The cast: familiar faces and surprises

Who would’ve thought John Malkovich, the king of sinister roles (remember him in Dangerous Liaisons?), would embody a Hercule Poirot that’s more human and less caricature? Here, the Belgian detective isn’t just an eccentric genius with a pristine mustache, he’s an aging man questioning his place in a world that seems to have forgotten him. Malkovich brings a melancholy that makes you wonder: what if Sherlock Holmes had an existential crisis?

Rupert Grint, our eternal Ron Weasley from Harry Potter, trades his wand for Inspector Crome’s badge. Skeptical and full of himself, Crome represents the new generation of British law enforcement, the kind that prefers tech over gut instincts. Grint, who’s already proven his chops in Servant (that claustrophobic M. Night Shyamalan series), shows here he can handle drama without magical potions.

Eamon Farren (Cahir in The Witcher) steals the show as Alexander Bonaparte Cust, the traveling salesman turned murder suspect. Farren turns Cust into a figure both pathetic and terrifying, you almost pity him, until you remember he might be a killer. And Anya Chalotra, The Witcher’s Yennefer, shines as Lily Marbury, an original addition to the story who injects extra emotional complexity. Chalotra, despite her short résumé, holds her own like a seasoned pro.

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Poirot: from mustache to scars

Hercule Poirot is an icon, but Malkovich’s version flips the script. Forget the methodical, confident detective: here, he’s a man haunted by his past, battling obsolescence. It’s as if David Suchet (the classic TV Poirot) met his broody twin in a Brussels bar. The series digs into his insecurities, rare in past adaptations, and makes you think: do even geniuses have bad days?

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Past adaptations: from faithful to farce

Before the BBC’s take, The ABC Murders had already been a film and TV episode. In 1992, David Suchet starred in a faithful but condensed TV version. Then in 1965, it became a slapstick comedy with Tony Randall, yes, comedy! in a tone that’d make Christie roll in her grave. Can you picture Poirot tangled in Three Stooges-style gags? Exactly.

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Christie on screen: trains, ships, and endless suspense

Speaking of adaptations, Christie reigns supreme. Murder on the Orient Express (1974) is a classic with an all-star cast, but the 2017 version, featuring Kenneth Branagh’s outrageous mustache, tried to modernize the look (and nearly failed). Meanwhile, Death on the Nile (2022), also by Branagh, battled everything from pandemics to cast controversies, Gal Gadot almost became a meme for her questionable Egyptian accent. And let’s not forget And Then There Were None (2015), a BBC miniseries that’s pure icy dread, with Charles Dance as a judge who defines "sinister".

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Why revamp classics?

The BBC nailed it by blending a young cast (Grint and Chalotra have fans who didn’t even know Poirot) with a narrative that preserves Christie’s core. It’s the same formula as The Haunting of Hill House or Little Women: take a classic, add familiar faces and a dash of modern anxiety. It works because it respects the source while whispering: hey, this is about you too.

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Conclusion: a toast to classics (and reinvention)

The 2018 miniseries isn’t just another adaptation, it’s an experiment in how old stories can breathe anew. Malkovich delivers a Poirot that aches with humanity, Grint proves child actors can mature with style, and Chalotra… well, she just cements her status as a rising star.

So, is it worth it? If you love mysteries blending clever riddles with personal drama, yes. The BBC didn’t reinvent the wheel, it just put spikes on it. The result is a journey that honors Christie while nudging the viewer: look how much this old detective still has to say. In the end, The ABC Murders is like fine wine: it ages well but tastes even better with an unexpected twist.