"Orient Express" Teaser Trailer Arrives!
Thursday, June 1, 2017 at 1:30PM 
Chris here. We've been obsessively tracking the developments of Kenneth Branagh's Murder on the Orient Express here at The Film Experience, so of course we have to share the first trailer.
One of the open questions for the film we've had about the film was tone - would this be a campy lighthearted romp full of famous faces or a more morbid serious-minded mystery true to Agatha Christie's text? From the look of this first teaser we'll be served something in between. And with plenty of attention paid to each star of this massive ensemble, even if our eyes naturally wander to Michelle Pfeiffer.
In a nifty bit of character introduction, Branagh takes us through the train car and the various characters in one take before giving the big reveal to his Poirot. We're already sold on the film, so we won't do the full Yes No Maybe So. But TAG YOURSELF as one of the passengers in the comments based on your response to this teaser - I'm Daisy Ridley's mildly concerned Governess (that rock anthem coda has me a little worried, friends).
Reader Comments (49)
The rock music struck me as dumb at first, but I feel like fidelity could be this film's biggest failing - how do you tell such a well-known story distinctively and with some variation? The music is likely a trailer choice alone, but if they're going to surprise us with modern touches, it might work.
The trailer is well edited, and I love to see people like Michelle Pfeiffer, Willem Dafoe, Judi Dench and Olivia Colman together for a murder mistery.
But that song is lame, this trend needs to stop.
Achei lichão
Yeah, song choice is weird to me too
Feels like its trying to be Guy-Ritchie-Sherlock-Holmes-esque, which worries me a bit ... and would likely kill Oscar chances.
I am Pfeiffer's slinky walk down the train corridor.
SLAAAAAY.
I physically cannot acknowledge the existence of this thing.
I am the professor. Not least for the "WHO THE F*CK ARE YOU TO ACCUSE ME" defensiveness. But mostly because he gets to sit at a table (and more?!?!) with "The Count" Sergei Polunin. **Swoon**
The Poster is great,the cast is great,the locations are gr8 BUT WE KNOW HOW IT ENDS.
Once you have a mystery that's been solved what's the point?
That is a beautiful poster.
Do like seeing Michelle Pfeiffer, Willem Dafoe, Penelope Cruz, Judi Dench, and Daisy Ridley but is that fucking Imagine Dragons? Ugh..... and please, stop having Johnny Depp. He sucks now.
That poster is everything, and though I love the idea of the trailer, it's just this side of hokey in its execution. I almost would have preferred their lines to have been in voice over.
I'd like to be with JB about Pfeiffer's walk, but her line reading was shit. I think I'm the train--a combo of trains in Snowpiercer, Polar Express, Transsiberian, and the original MOTOE in a blizzard. But more likely Snowpiercer cuz of what just happened in the Rose Garden.
Liked the trailer a LOT until that horrifying use of the Imagine Dragons song. UGH. Can't wait to see this though. And I LOVE this poster. Excellent.
I'm Penelope's missionary, ESPECIALLY in regards to that Imagine Dragons song playing in the background.
Thank God I live in a world where I don't know who Imagine Dragons are.
I loved the trailer until that song. Not an original comment but still..
I'm actually really looking forward to Daisy Ridley's performance. I loved her work in the force awakens and I'm excited to see what else she has to offer.
I am still swooning over the fact that they cast the bad boy of ballet as the count.
Love the trailer and cast, but hate the song and Branagh's scene stealing facial hair.
REPFEIFFAL IS COMING!
Pfeiffer walking down that corridor is pretty much going to get me to buy a ticket, and I loved this book, but the point is fair-what happens when everyone knows the end of a murder mystery film? I didn't have this problem with Gone Girl or The Girl on the Train since I'd never read the books, but this one I've read and seen another movie-it feels like it's going to be a tough sell to its core audience, not a problem anyone wants to have.
I am a hard maybe until a review comes out. It is a well known story (murderer is well known) and this has kind of a jokey tone, and I am not seeing it playing with audiences in 2017. What's up with Kenneth Branaugh having brown hair and a crazy, grey moustache and beard? Never happens without hair dye.
Jesse T: When it first showed up in that Nintendo Switch ad, it was clever and punchy, probably the best choice of music track advertising since The Founder's first trailer.
Given the insert of Penelope Cruz's character from another story - are y'all expecting it to be the same? I'm thinking they'll throw a twist or two to surprise all of us in there!
(Still waiting for one of these for Victoria & Abdul!) :)
I do have two issues - Poirot would never call himself the greatest detective in the world - he is one of the more modest characters in literature. Perhaps that's Kenneth Branagh allowing a little bit of himself into the character? :D
Also - why is Pfeiffer the second page of star billing? And why is Olivia Colman not even listed? Grrr
LOOKS AMAZING :)
Branagh's French accent is not at all convincing!
Agreed MorganB why is amazing Olivia Colman not listed on the poster? :-(
It doesn't excite me as I've watched the original a few times and I know the story inside out....maybe for first-timers
Hmmm Pfieffer's line reading was shit. Hopefully it was just that line. She has said she thought she was ruining the movie, hopefully she's wrong lol
I sometime forget how much I like William Dafoe and then I remember
This is a 40 year old movie from an 80 year old book. The Millennial generation might not actually know WhoDunIt, so please be mindful of SPOILERS.
It looks sumptuous, and up to date, although I get that Ritchie vibe, and Branaugh doesn't look like ANY of the previous versions of Poirot, but I'm most definitely intrigued.
I'll be the Assistant. I don't mind Josh Gad. And that was Anthony Perkins in the 70's version, n'est pas?
I'm the Imagine Dragons' song in the background, for I clearly do not belong anywhere near this remake. Prove me wrong, amazing cast (and Johnny Depp).
mark -- maybe they'll change the ending like CLUE.
Wow. So I love this song but it doesn't fit the trailer AT ALL. It was like someone just turned on the radio, heard it and decided to put it in. I do love how we're introduced to the characters though. Hopefully they're more than just the tropes that their labels are often associated with. I'm still having trouble buying Kenneth Branagh as Poroit but I'm definitely intrigued. I'm looking forward to seeing how they choose to have the story play out.
I am the train - I have Dame Judi inside me so I killed someone to make her stay a bit longer.
Whoever said "Hmmm Pfieffer's line reading was shit. NEEDS to go fuck himself :)
He sounds like a hater fuck you :)
This looks GREAT!
Can't wait :)
Can't wait :)
:)
I am one of the passengers that trew himself out of the window after hearing and watching Kenneth Branagh attemp at acting (and seeing him fail once again). That guy should stick to behind the scenes only (even though I haven't liked a single movie he directed so far).
Don't judge folks you all sound so bitter :(
I'm one of the waiters in white uniforms, I must be innocent as I don't have a job description randomly appearing in front of me.
Odd how the big reveal in the trailer appears to be the moustaches.
I just started reading this blog on the advice of a friend. I began previously to the Cannes Festival write ups. I found the blog writers quite good; however, I found so much animosity in the bloggers. I certainly do not agree with everyone's opinions and speak out on my own ideas. But people were so rude and mean spirited. i thought I would not return to these rants.
I changed my mind and am giving in because I truly enjoy most of the items. But again the language used over a person's line reading is inexcusable!
Since I'm 50 years old have never read the book or seen the original movie, I'm Dame Judy's Princess "What is going on?"
Geez, Stella. Rude.
By the way I adore Pfieffer (she's given at least three win-worthy level performances) but she can be a bit fussy as a performer at times.
natalie -- glad you're enjoying the blogposts and welcome! If the comments ever get to much for you I'd skip them and just read the articles. Some people do get feisty in the comments but for the most part people are nicer here than on many comment boards.
everyone -- playing the tag yourself game as Chris suggested. I am the tracking shot because my emotions were all over the place watching this, changing with each face.
The original adaptation was 1974. Plenty of people have never seen it (or read the book). What an odd complaint to make when Johnny Depp is right there looking smug.
If I were to be a character I would probably be Judi Dench constantly asking what is going on around me, but deep down desiring to be Michelle because I want to walk on a train like that someday.
@ MorganB: "Poirot would never call himself the greatest detective in the world - he is one of the more modest characters in literature. Perhaps that's Kenneth Branagh allowing a little bit of himself into the character"
I too find it impossible that Poirot wld be so arrogant & smuck!! That is def Branagh's ego speaking!! Lol
@Jono--I have brown hair, my beard and mustache are completely gray, and I don't dye anything. So....
The music in trailers is rarely used in the movies, and I haven't understood what Hollywood was doing in its marketing for years, so I can ignore the song and be excited for the movie. I've read tons of Christie, so I have always known who the murderer is in each of the many film adaptations of her books. Especially in this story, that is not the only pleasure to be gained from watching a movie. There's also Leslie Odom, Jr. and Manuel Garcia-Rulfo to look at.
I'm more worried about Johnny Depp than anything. If you could vote to make anyone in Hollywood forcibly retire, he'd be my choice. Remember how great he was twenty years ago?