Edward Bluemel to Play Agatha Christie Detective Hercule Poirot in New BBC and BritBox Series

“My Lady Jane” star Edward Bluemel is taking on the iconic role of Detective Hercule Poirot in a new drama series from the BBC and BritBox.

Titled “Hercule,” the six-part series follows the Belgian detective — made famous by Agatha Christie — as he solves his first-ever cases in London before becoming the world’s most legendary sleuth.

Touted as an “intimate study of Hercule the man and an epic portrait of Britain between the wars,” the show “takes a magnifying glass to three of Christie’s most celebrated stories, while also charting Hercule’s burgeoning friendship with Captain Arthur Hastings, his early encounters with Scotland Yard’s James Japp and introducing him to one particular nemesis.” Filming is set to begin this summer in Liverpool, England.

“Hercule” is produced by Mammoth Screen, part of ITV Studios, and Agatha Christie Limited and written by Benji Walters (“Code of Silence,” “The Leopard”). Jonny Campbell (“Am I Being Unreasonable?,” “Dracula”) will direct the first two episodes and Charlie Palmer (“A Woman of Substance,” “Extraordinary”) is on board as series producer.

“I feel very lucky to have been trusted with such an iconic character who has been played by so many great actors,” Bluemel said in a statement. “I can’t wait to continue Hercule’s legacy.”

Added James Prichard, executive producer for Agatha Christie Limited: “My father had the privilege of working with David Suchet for nearly 25 years, and I now have the good fortune of being able to share my great grandmother’s brilliant stories with a new generation of viewers. Edward Bluemel is an extremely talented performer and will make a great addition to the long line of actors that have played this celebrated character, aided and abetted by Benji Walters’ thoughtful scripts. I cannot wait to see Edward on screen as Hercule Poirot.”

Alongside Prichard, executive producers include Walters and Campbell; Rebecca Durbin and Damien Timmer for Mammoth Screen; Nick Lambon for the BB; and Robert Schildhouse, Jon Farrar and Stephen Nye for BritBox. Fifth Season is handling global distribution.

“Hercule” will premiere on BritBox in North America and on BBC One and iPlayer in the U.K.