Agatha Christie's 'Toward Zero' First Images Introduce the Suspects

The first images from the star-studded adaptation of Agatha Christie's Towards Zero have arrived, and this year's annual mystery adaptation promises escapism alongside its whodunit. We've got coastal views, heated summer soirees, and what looks like a visit to Wimbledon Centre Court. The images are almost as hot as the mystery's plot, which includes an explosive love triangle, a formidable matriarch, and a house party of enemies.

The plot of Towards Zero concerns a house party, as do many of Christie's tales. Thrown by the bedridden Lady Tressilian for her ward, British tennis star Nevile Strange, the guest list (at his insistence) includes both his ex-wife Audrey and new wife Kay, as well as several friends of her ladyship. Lady Tressilian disapproves, but she doesn't get a say in things for very long, as she's found dead in bed despite never seeming to get out of it.

Towards Zero is the fifth and final Christie mystery to star Superintendant Battle, initially introduced in 1925's The Secret of Chimneys. The other novels in which Battle appears include The Seven Dials Mystery, Cards on the Table, and Murder Is Easy. Much like last year's Murder is Easy (and most adaptations of Battle books), the lesser-known detective is once again cut from his own story. Most of the time, the series does this to replace him with a non-detective sleuth; however, in this case, Battle's been replaced by the character who (in the books, anyway) is his nephew, Inspector Leach.

Anjelica Huston (The Golden Bowl) plays Lady Tressilian, the lady who throws the soiree despite her inability to get out of bed. Matthew Rhys (The Americans) plays Inspector Leach, the stand-in for Inspector Battle. 

(Poor Battle, he never makes it into his own mysteries. No wonder no one knows about him.)

Here's the series synopsis:

England, 1936. After a scandalous celebrity divorce, Nevile Strange and his ex-wife Audrey make the unthinkable decision to spend a summer together at Gull’s Point, their childhood home and the coastal estate of Nevile's aunt, Lady Tressilian.

With unfinished business between the former childhood sweethearts, plus the presence of Nevile’s new wife, Kay, tensions are running high. Add to this a long-suffering lady’s companion, a mysterious gentleman’s valet, an exiled cousin with a grudge, a venerable family lawyer, an inquisitive orphan, and a French con man, and soon there will be murder. A troubled detective must rediscover his purpose to untangle a toxic web of jealousy, deceit, and dysfunction. Can he solve the crime before another victim meets their death?

Clarke Peters (His Dark Materials) plays Mr. Treves, an old friend of Lady Tressilian, with Anjana Vasan (We Are Lady Parts) as Mary Aldin, another party guest caught up in this disastrous mess.

The first images of the cast of the new mystery include Rhys, Huston, Peters, and Vasan. Other photos include Jack Farthing (Poldark) as suspect Thomas Royde, Oliver Jackson-Cohen (Mr. Malcolm's List) as Nevile, with Mimi Keene (Sex Education) and Ella Lily Hyland (Black Doves) as his current and ex-wives, respectively. Co-stars not pictured include Jackie Clune (Marriage), Grace Doherty (Call the Midwife), Khalil Gharbia (Mary & George), and Adam Hugill (Sherwood).

Aboive, a picture of Jackson-Cohen with Hyland as Nevile with ex-wife Audrey. Below, Jackson-Cohen with Keene as Kay, heating things up as newlyweds. 

....Oh dear.

Agatha Christie’s Towards Zero was adapted by Rachel Bennette, directed by Sam Yates, and produced by Rebecca Durbin. Executive producers are James Prichard for Agatha Christie Limited, Sheena Bucktowonsing & Damien Timmer for Mammoth Screen, Danielle Scott-Haughton for the BBC, and Jon Farrar, Stephen Nye, and Robert Schildhouse for BritBox International. This is the third Christie adaptation produced by Agatha Christie Limited and Mammoth Screen (part of ITV Studios) as a co-commission between the BBC and BritBox International.

Towards Zero is expected to premiere on the BBC over the 2024 holidays and arrive on BritBox in early 2025.