Jennifer Garner will produce the adaptation, which will not only be contemporary but see the age of amateur detective Marple brought down.
Agatha Christie’s elderly detective Miss Marple is getting the big-screen treatment from Disney.
After months of negotiations, the studio has closed a deal to capture the movie rights to the character, who first appeared in 1927.
Mark Frost has been tapped to pen the screenplay.
Marple was one of Christie’s most famous creations, an elderly woman constantly knitting or weeding, looking sweet and frail though the exterior masks a sharp mind with a deep understanding of the dark side of human nature.
The character first appeared on screen in 1961 in Murder, She Said, portrayed by Margaret Rutherford, who was 70 when she played the character in the first of a series of movies. Angela Landsbury played the character in 1980’s The Mirror Crack’d.
Disney is not making a period movie however but looking do a contemporary version.
Hiring Frost may also signal an intent to make something with an edge. The writer, whose recent credits include penning the Fantastic Four movies, is best known for co-creating the landmark TV series Twin Peaks with David Lynch.
PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE don’t so this. Do not take a beloved character and twist it to fit what you and Disney think audiences will want to see. It is as ridiculous as casting Will Ferrell to play Dr Martin Luther King Jr…it just doesn’t work. If you have read Christie…I mean, really read her books…(all the Marple books especially) you would ave enough respect for the character to leave it the way it was written. You will know this character developed in later life, which is why she is so successful at what she does. Marple’s early background is NOT one of mystery, intrigue, and excitement. The only way you could make this any worse is if you make it in 3D. Wait, I just gave Disney yet another “idea”. Just do an original mystery movie- be a great new character. DON’T change something that is perfect as it was written.
About the person who posted before me,Jennifer, I totally second your speech. About “our” Jennifer…please don’t do..or if you want to do wait 20 years at least..