Kenneth Branagh picked up the award for best actor in a lead role for his performance in BBC detective drama ‘Wallender’ at the 45th International Emmy Awards last night, Monday November 20th.
Branagh won for his portrayal of Swedish detective Kurl Wallander in the popular drama series ‘Wallander’, which has built a strong American following on PBS’s Masterpiece.
Other big winners on the night included Anna Friel who won best actress in a lead role for her performance in Netflix crime drama ‘Marcella’, Steve Coogan picked up the award for best comedy series for his Sky Atlantic series ‘Alan Partridge’s Scissored Isle’, while Norway’s ‘Mammon II’ received the award for best drama series.
Branagh’s win comes with the news that a sequel to the ‘Murder on the Orient Express’ is in the pipeline following success at the box office. The Agatha Christie novel, which was adapted and directed by Branagh is expected to return after Twentieth Century Fox announced that an adaptation of ‘Death on the Nile’ was the next stop for Branagh’s character Hercule Poirot, in which he must this time solve a mysterious murder upon a riverboat.
Although Kenneth Branagh is not confirmed as of yet, strong reports from the Hollywood Reporter claim that Branagh is expected to return as lead and director for the sequel which will see Michael Green once again write the screenplay
The film was produced by Kenneth Branagh, Ridley Scott, Mark Gordon, Simon Kinberg, Judy Hofflund and Michael Schaefer, while Steve Asbell will oversee the new project.