Netflix has delivered an early treat for mystery lovers, releasing a suspenseful first trailer for its upcoming adaptation of Agatha Christie's classic novel, 'The Seven Dials Mystery'. The three-part series is set to premiere on the streaming platform in January.
A Glamorous Party Turns Deadly
The trailer opens in the opulent world of the 1920s, at a lavish masquerade ball. Here, the spirited Lady Eileen 'Bundle' Brent, played by Mia McKenna-Bruce, is swept up in a flirtation with the charming Gerry Wade. Their moment is cut short just as a proposal seems imminent. The following morning, chaos erupts when a cacophony of alarm clocks sounds from Gerry's room, much to the annoyance of Bundle's mother, Lady Caterham, portrayed by Helena Bonham Carter.
Bundle's investigation of the noise leads to a horrifying discovery: Gerry lies dead in his bed. The scene is made even more mysterious by the presence of seven clocks arranged on his mantlepiece. Transforming her grief into a determined quest for answers, Bundle vows to her mother, 'I’m not going to rest until I find out what happened to him.'
A Sleuth Defying Expectations
Ignoring repeated warnings from friends and the cautious Superintendent Battle (Martin Freeman), Bundle plunges deeper into the enigma of 'the Seven Dials'. Ronnie Devereux cautions her to 'Be careful who you speak to about this', while Battle emphasises the 'high degree of peril'. Even her mother warns that people who go looking for trouble usually find it.
As the trailer reveals, danger is palpable. Brief flashes show a gunshot, a masked figure, Bundle weeping over a body, and a terrifying fall from a window. Yet, the tenacious heroine remains resolute, proclaiming, 'I am not going to stop until I get to the truth.' Mia McKenna-Bruce praised her character's modern spirit, noting Bundle is a 'go-getter' who refuses to be deterred by the constraints placed on women in 1925.
A Modern Take on a Timeless Mystery
The series has been reimagined for a contemporary audience by Chris Chibnall, the creator of Broadchurch, with Chris Sweeney serving as director and executive producer. McKenna-Bruce explained their goal was to make Christie's work feel accessible to new viewers while honouring the core of her iconic murder mysteries.
The star-studded cast also includes Corey Mylchreest as Gerry Wade, Edward Bluemel as Jimmy Thesiger, and Nabhaan Rizwan as Ronnie Devereux. The official synopsis sets the scene: 'England. 1925. At a lavish country house party, a practical joke appears to have gone horribly, murderously wrong.'
All three episodes of 'Agatha Christie's Seven Dials' will be available to stream on Netflix from Thursday, 15th January. This marks the latest in a series of acclaimed Christie adaptations for television, following recent successes like And Then There Were None and Towards Zero.
