BBC, Acorn, A+E partner for new Agatha Christie

The BBC, A+E Studios and Acorn are coproducing a TV adaptation of Agatha Christie novel The Witness for the Prosecution, which will bow on BBC One in the UK, and Brit-centric streaming service Acorn TV in the US.

The novel will be adapted by Sarah Phelps who penned the recent successful TV version of Christie’s And Then There Were None. Poldark prodco Mammoth Screen will make the new show.

Acorn Media Enterprises, the US copro partner alongside A+E Studios, is the production arm of US SVOD service Acorn. It recently came on board upcoming ITV cop drama The Level as a copro partner and several more copros are understood to be in the offing.

Acorn is run by RLJ Entertainment, which in turn owns 64% of Agatha Christie Limited, which controls the rights to the famous author’s work.

Acorn has US rights and secondary rights in Canada, the UK, Ireland and Australasia.

Christie’s short story The Witness for the Prosecution was published in 1925. It was adapted for the big screen in a 1957 Billy Wilder movie. The TV version will run to two parts.

Set in 1920s London, the story follows events after a bloodthirsty murder, with the prime suspect setting out to prove his innocence.

CEO of Agatha Christie Limited and executive producer Hilary Strong said: “With And Then There Were None, we reminded viewers just how brilliant Agatha Christie’s plotting is and just how modern her stories could be.

“We are delighted to be working with Mammoth Screen and Sarah Phelps again to deliver another iconic title for the BBC and our international co-production partners Acorn Media Enterprises and A+E Studios.”