Chris Chibnall teases a “whole different attitude” as Seven Dials moves away from Poirot and Marple

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Chris Chibnall is making his debut as a screenwriter for the screen with an adaptation of an Agatha Christie novel for Netflix’s Seven Dials.

This new three-part mystery series features Mia McKenna-Bruce (known from ‘How to Have Sex’) as Lady Eileen ‘Bundle’ Brent, a keen amateur detective. She begins investigating when a seemingly harmless prank at her lavish country house leads to a young man’s death.

When Chris Chibnall reread Agatha Christie’s 1929 novel, The Seven Dials Mystery, he noticed it was different from her more famous books, like those starring Hercule Poirot and Miss Marple. He found it stood out as a unique work.

“Oh, this is not what I remember from Agatha Christie,” he recalled when rereading the book.

Okay, so stepping outside of the familiar world of Poirot and Miss Marple, this film introduces Bundle, a character Christie only used once before in another novel. And honestly, she’s a breath of fresh air. Played by Mia, Bundle isn’t a seasoned detective; she’s a young woman, maybe 19 or 20, and she’s completely unprepared when a mystery unfolds right in her own home. It’s a really interesting shift in perspective, seeing the events unfold through her eyes as she’s thrown into the deep end.

I also found it genuinely funny, with memorable characters reminiscent of P.G. Wodehouse and the ‘Bright Young Things’ era. The show features a fantastic young cast, including Corey Mylchreest (known from ‘Queen Charlotte’ and ‘Hostage’), Nabhaan Rizwan (‘Juice,’ ‘Film Club’), and Ed Bluemel (‘Sex Education,’ ‘My Lady Jane’).

The story does feature a returning character: Superintendent Battle, played by Martin Freeman. He’s appeared in four previous Agatha Christie novels, and according to writer Chris Chibnall, he plays a significant role, both in how he’s introduced and how vital he is to solving the mystery.

He emphasized that the story is a fast-paced thriller, unlike a traditional, stage-bound murder mystery. It’s full of action, with characters constantly on the move, diverse settings, and plenty of chases.

This is essentially the first version of today’s suspenseful thrillers. Agatha Christie started creating these kinds of stories in the 1920s, long before Hollywood began making them into films.

Freeman agreed with Chibnall, noting that ‘Seven Dials’ feels distinct from most previous adaptations of Agatha Christie’s work.

It felt distinct – like a new side of her personality was emerging, while still recognizably her. It was fascinating to watch, almost like a younger, fresher take on the classic Agatha Christie style.

The cast features Helena Bonham Carter alongside McKenna-Bruce and Freeman. Bonham Carter, a longtime fan of Miss Marple, plays Lady Caterham, Bundle’s mother. This role is a twist on the original story, where the character was a man – Lord Caterham, Bundle’s father.

It gives proceedings a “fresh dynamic,” Chibnall told TopMob magazine.

“And we really wanted to make it cinematic as well. It’s just been a delight from start to finish.”

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Authors

Abby RobinsonDrama Editor

Abby Robinson is the Drama Editor at TopMob, where she writes about TV dramas and comedies. Before that, she was a TV writer for Digital Spy and a content writer for Mumsnet. She has a degree and a postgraduate diploma in English Studies.

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2026-01-15 09:34