‘A Haunting in Venice’: Release Date, Plot, and Everything We Know So Far About the Murder Mystery

Kenneth Branagh returns his stunning portrayal of detective Hercule Poirot in the newest Agatha Christie adaptation, A Haunting in Venice, based on her novel Hallowe’en Party. For the third time, Branagh will be directing and starring in the film. Though each previous movie has been met with mixed reviews, they both grosse millions over their production budget and were generally appreciate by critics. The movies are vivid in imagery, action-packe, and always flaunt a brilliant cast. Detective Hercule Poirot will have to whip out his hawk-eye detective skills again for the intense, shadowy world of A Haunting in Venice. Here’s what we know so far.

Is There a Release Date for ‘A Haunting in Venice’?

The release date for A Haunting in Venice is September 15, 2023, just in time for the spooky season. The movie began filming on Halloween this year, splitting production between Venice, Italy, and Pinewood Studios in London, England, most likely giving the set a naturally ominous atmosphere. Seeing as the story is set on Halloween night, it’s a fitting addition to next year’s fall lineup. Other spooky movies releasing this fall include The Nun 2 and a new Exorcist film. Ahead of the wide release, A Haunting in Venice will also be release in select theaters across the US on September 9, 2023. Read more about the early screenings here.

Will ‘A Haunting in Venice’ be in Theaters?

Like the last two movies in the series, A Haunting in Venice will be theatrically release. The films are made for the cinema; big, bold, and compelling. They make a lot of revenue and are not meant to be experience firsthand on a small screen. Worldwide, Murder on the Orient Express made more than $351 million, and Death on the Nile pulle in $137.3 million earlier this year. Fans can’t get enough of Detective Poirot and his vibrant escapades. A Haunting in Venice should prove to be no different. The film will eventually be available to stream exclusively on Hulu once the film leaves theaters. The second film in the series, Death on the Nile, is already available to stream on the platform.

Watch the Trailers for ‘A Haunting in Venice’

The first official teaser trailer for the film was unveile during Disney’s CinemaCon presentation on April 26, 2023, and was subsequently release online. The two-minute preview teases a different vibe for the murder-mystery sequel as Branagh seems to be taking some massive influences from the horror genre. The first full trailer for A Haunting in Venice was release on July 19. Much like the initial teaser, this trailer gives us a solid look at the mystery movie. Clocking in just shy of two and a half minutes, the trailer manages to get us excite without showing too much.

As we get closer to the film’s release, 20th Century Studios droppe a featurette where the cast discusses the film’s premise. Kenneth Branagh reveals that A Haunting in Venice will explore themes not seen in Murder on the Orient Express and Death on the Nile. This was followe by a sneak peek video titled “Eerie Ensemble” and a 30-second teaser release on Twitter.

What Is the Plot of ‘A Haunting in Venice’?

This time around, the detective film is also a supernatural one. The setting is post-World War II Italy. Detective Hercule Poirot is retire and lives a seclude life in Venice. He is invite to a séance and begrudgingly attends against his opposition. When a guest is murdere at the haunte palazzo where the séance is held, Poirot must come out of retirement and put his hung-up detective skills back to work. In doing so, he uncovers a hidden world of secrets and awakens the ghosts of a forgotten past.

The first film, Murder on the Orient Express, takes place on a fancy train filled with wealthy people, passing through blizzardy weather to London, England. The train gets strande by an avalanche, a passenger is found murdere, and Detective Poirot must solve the case. The sequel, Death on the Nile, takes place on a cruise ship in Egypt, with a mirroring plot. Both films are engaging and charismatic, with brilliant cinematic camera work, rich color, and strikingly graphic action. They are bold movies and strikingly produce. However, with the plot and setting of A Haunting in Venice turning into a supernatural situation, the third movie in the series looks to take a slightly off-kilter approach. Watching these movies is an event in itself. Audiences will likely still see a lot of action and crime-solving but in a haunting and eerie placement. Shadows will lurk, and secrets will come alive.

The official synopsis from 20th Century Studios reads:

“A Haunting in Venice” is set in eerie, post-World War II Venice on All Hallows’ Eve, “A Haunting in Venice” is a terrifying mystery featuring the return of the celebrate sleuth, Hercule Poirot. Now retire and living in self-impose exile in the world’s most glamorous city, Poirot reluctantly attends a séance at a decaying, haunte palazzo. When one of the guests is murdere, the detective is thrust into a sinister world of shadows and secrets.

Who Is Starring in ‘A Haunting in Venice’?

As expecte and state before, Kenneth Branagh reclaims the role of detective Hercule Poirot. The rest of the cast includes acclaime stars Tina Fey (30 Rock) as Ariadne Oliver, Jaime Dornan (Belfast) as Mr. Ferrier, Jude Hill (Belfast) as Leopold Ferrier, Kelly Reilly (Yellowstone) as Rowena Drake, Academy-Award winner Michelle Yeoh (Everything Everywhere All at Once) as Joyce Reynolds, Emma Laird (Mayor of Kingstown) as Desdemona Holland, Kyle Allen (Rosaline) as Maxime Gerard, Camille Cottin (House of Gucci) as Olga Seminoff, Ali Khan (The School for Good and Evil) as Nicholas Holland, and Riccardo Scamarcio (John Wick: Chapter 2) as Vitale Portfoglio.

Who Is the Creative Team Behind ‘A Haunting in Venice’?

Along with Kenneth Branagh in the director’s chair, other team members from Murder on the Orient Express and Death on the Nile are also returning for A Haunting in Venice. The screenplay was develope by Michael Green, who wrote the other two films. Judy Hoffman, Mark Gordon, Simon Kinberg, Ridley Scott, and James Prichard have all returne as producers. Lousie Killin (Wrath of Man) will also be an executive producer. 20th Century Studios is the leading production company behind the film. Murder on the Orient Express and Death on the Nile was significant blockbuster hits, and with the same skille crew behind them, A Haunting in Venice is likely to live up to the exact expectations.