AFTER first taking the train, 20th Century Fox is now ready to hop on a riverboat cruise.

On the heels of “Murder on the Orient Express,” Fox is staying in the Agatha Christie business by putting into development “Death on the Nile” its next Hercule Poirot mystery.

Michael Green, who adapted the screenplay for “Orient Express,” is penning the script, and while there is no deal currently in place, five-time Oscar nominee Kenneth Branagh is expected to return as director and reprise his role as Poirot.

“Death on the Nile,” first published in 1937, saw the detective on a vacation in Egypt and becoming involved in a love triangle gone murderously bad. The novel once again featured socialites, social climbers and high society’s help in the cast.

Just as “Orient Express” was previously adapted into an all-star 1970s movie featuring Albert Finney as Poirot, so, too, was “Death on the Nile.” The 1978 pic featured Bette Davis, Mia Farrow, Maggie Smith, Angela Lansbury and David Niven, among others. The story remains one of Christie’s most popular works.

“Orient Express,” which was made for US$55 million, has chugged its way to almost US$150 million worldwide since Nov. 10. (SD-Agencies)