It is almost impossible to talk about Hercule Poirot without every fan immediately choosing “their” detective. For many — myself included — David Suchet practically became inseparable from the character created by Agatha Christie. Peter Ustinov had his own charm, Albert Finney left a lasting impression, John Malkovich dared to do something completely different, and Kenneth Branagh found his own version: bigger, more cinematic, and with a moustache that is practically a supporting character. Now it is Edward Bluemel’s turn to face what may be the most complicated challenge of all: playing Poirot before he becomes the Poirot we know.

Bluemel will lead Hercule, a new six-part series produced by Mammoth Screen and Agatha Christie Limited for the BBC and BritBox. Written by Benji Walters, the production will return to Poirot’s early cases in London and explore not only the brilliant investigator, but how he became the most famous detective in fiction. Set in England between the two World Wars, the series will use three Christie stories to build that journey. And we already know one of them: Lord Edgware Dies, the 1933 novel, will be among the mysteries revisited in Hercule. It is an especially entertaining choice when it comes to imagining this younger Poirot.

Also published in the United States as Thirteen at Dinner, the novel begins when actress Jane Wilkinson approaches Poirot because she wants to divorce her husband, Lord Edgware. The problem seems to disappear almost immediately: the aristocrat tells the detective that he has already agreed to the separation and had even informed his wife of his decision. Hours later, Lord Edgware is dead. Of course he is!

Jane, naturally, appears to be the perfect suspect. Witnesses insist she was at her husband’s house on the night of the murder. There is only one small problem: several other people are equally certain she spent that exact time at a dinner party somewhere else. And, as usually happens when Agatha Christie offers us a perfect alibi far too early, the solution is obviously not as simple as it seems.

The choice makes sense for another reason. Lord Edgware Dies features characters who would become essential to Poirot’s life, including Captain Arthur Hastings and Inspector James Japp. And Hercule has already confirmed that it will explore the beginning of Poirot’s friendship with Hastings, his first encounters with Japp, and the arrival of an enemy who is expected to play an important role in this new version of the story.

Who is playing whom, however, remains a Christie-worthy mystery. Alongside Bluemel, the cast includes Henry Ashton, from A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms; James D’Arcy, from Oppenheimer; Calvin Demba, from Supacell; Phil Dunning, from Smoggie Queens; Jack Gleeson, forever remembered as Joffrey from Game of Thrones; Tamsin Greig, from Friday Night Dinner; James Nesbitt, from Cold Feet; Guy Remmers, from The Buccaneers; Rebecca Rittenhouse, from His & Hers; and Mawaan Rizwan, from Juice. The production has yet to reveal which characters they will be playing.

In other words, Hercule already has us looking for clues before it has even begun. And Lord Edgware Dies comes with an especially irresistible piece of trivia for anyone who has followed Poirot on television for decades.

In 1985, the story became Thirteen at Dinner, with Peter Ustinov playing Hercule Poirot. David Suchet appeared in the same film, but as Inspector Japp. Four years later, in 1989, Suchet would take over Poirot’s moustache himself in the series that lasted nearly 25 years and made him, for an entire generation, the definitive version of the character. The story eventually came full circle. In 2000, Suchet starred in his own adaptation of Lord Edgware Dies, this time, of course, as Poirot.

Edward Bluemel is therefore joining a lineage that is hardly insignificant. And Hercule sounds smart precisely because it is not simply trying to replace Suchet, Ustinov, Branagh or any other actor who has taken on the role. The series intends to go backwards and find a Poirot who is still forming his friendships, his rivals, his way of observing people and, presumably, some of the eccentricities that will one day become as recognizable as his moustache.

Filming is taking place mainly in Liverpool, although an official premiere date has yet to be announced. And Hercule will not be alone in this new wave of Christie adaptations.

On September 15, BritBox will premiere Agatha Christie’s Tommy & Tuppence in the United States and Canada, a new — and this time contemporary — version of the adventures of Christie’s amateur detective couple. Antonia Thomas plays Tuppence, Josh Dylan is Tommy, and Imelda Staunton completes the main trio as Aunt Ada. The six-part series will bring the characters into the 21st century rather than simply transferring the novels directly to the screen.

More than a century after she began creating detectives, suspects, victims and murderers on the page, Agatha Christie is still supplying television with new stories.

Poirot may be younger this time, but the Queen of Crime remains perfectly immortal.