Summary

• A Haunting in Venice offers a fresh take on the classic sleuth story, and it's inspired by Agatha Christie's novel Hallowe'en Party.
• Ariadne Oliver, played by Tina Fey, plays a vital role in the film, convincing Hercule Poirot to reenter society and solve a murder mystery.
• Ariadne has a rich history in Christie's novels as a mystery writer and a close friend to Poirot, making her a beloved and important character.

A Haunting in Venice is an enchanting film full of mystery and intrigue, and Tina Fey's character, Ariadne Oliver, plays a key role. Inspired by author Agatha Christie's novel Hallowe'en Party, the movie introduces viewers to a world of shadows, dark secrets, and murder. Although Christie's novels have been adapted time and time again since the late 1920s, A Haunting in Venice manages to provide a fresh take on the classic sleuth story.

A Haunting in Venice has a few things going for it, including a cast of colorful characters, an intriguing plot, and a long-standing place in literary history. While A Haunting in Venice makes some changes to the source material, one important detail remains true to Christie's work. Ariadne plays a large part in the author's Hercule Poirot stories, and A Haunting in Venice keeps her front and center. To fully understand the character's role in the film — and how she'll factor into potential sequels — it's important to take a step back and look at her long-standing history in Christie's novels.

Ariadne Oliver's Role In A Haunting In Venice Explained

There are several prominent A Haunting in Venice, but Ariadne is arguably one of the most important. Ariadne is an old friend of the main character, Hercule Poirot, a private investigator who has gone into a self-imposed exile. Fey's character convinces him to re society and attend a séance with her. Ariadne's urging propels the main storyline, as Hercule reentering society returns him to the world of solving crime, as he must uncover who murdered a guest at the event.

As Hercule investigates, he makes sure to leave no stone unturned and rule out no one, including Ariadne. However, Ariadne is no stranger to solving mysteries, and she becomes Hercule's partner in (solving) crime. She works as a mystery writer, and her experience penning such stories proves invaluable throughout the investigation.

While A Haunting in Venice remains true to Ariadne's character in Christie's novels, the movie makes one key change. In A Haunting in Venice, Ariadne isn't the greatest of friends to Poirot, even though she convinces him to break out of his shell. She attempts to fool him into thinking another character's supernatural powers, and she pushes him to believe ghosts surround them. She believes that if she can stump him during the case, it'll help her craft her own mystery novel.

Who Plays Ariadne Oliver In A Haunting In Venice

Ariadne Oliver is played by a familiar face, though not in the mystery space. Fey is best known for her comedic roles in titles like Saturday Night Live, Baby Mama, Mean Girls, and 30 Rock. In A Haunting in Venice, Fey shifts from making audiences laugh to making them gasp. Although comedy and mystery don't seem to go hand in hand, the skills Fey picked up from playing funny and bold characters on-screen helped her land — and stand out in — this part.

A Haunting in Venice director Kenneth Branagh told Variety that Christie readers may already have a strong affinity for Ariadne's character. He shared his observation that her novel counterpart is well-loved for being able to give it as good as she gets it. Branagh cited her "sharpness, mental agility, and cheekiness" as qualities that have led readers to fall for Ariadne over the course of Christie's books.

Which Agatha Christie Books Ariadne Oliver Has Been In

Ariadne has a long history in Christie's literary universe. She's been in a number of Christie's novels and is often seen assisting Poirot with his crime-solving endeavors. The first time readers met the character was in the 1936 novel, Cards on the Table, which was turned into a movie in 2006. She then appeared in Mrs McGinty's Dead (1952), Dead Man's Folly (1956), The Pale Horse (1961), Third Girl (1966), Hallowe'en Party (1969), Elephants Can (1972), and Hercule Poirot and the Greenhouse Folly (2014).

It's clear from all her appearances that Ariadne is an important character to Christie. This is partially because Ariadne has served as a vehicle for Christie's own voice. In a 1956 interview with John Bull magazine (via Agatha Christie), the author confirmed that Ariadne contains a "strong dash" of herself. Christie has found interesting ways to nod to her connection to Ariadne, such as crediting the character with writing a novel called The Body in the Library in one of her books. The author later went on to write that book herself.

The executive producer of A Haunting in Venice and Christie's great-great-grandson reiterated that Ariadne held a special place in his relative's heart. He told Metro that the similarities between Christie and Ariadne were deliberate. According to him, she wanted people to recognize the connections between them and would intentionally put parts of herself into the character. He also explained that, with Ariadne being a bold and at-times controversial character, she began to serve as somewhat of a mouthpiece for the more introverted Christie. This could explain why Ariadne was present in so many of Christie's novels.

Will Ariadne Oliver Return In Another Hercule Poirot Movie?

It has not been confirmed if Ariadne will appear in another Hercule Poirot movie, but it's certainly possible. With A Haunting in Venice tackling the 1969 novel Hallowe'en Party, there are two other books that were released after: Elephants Can and Hercule Poirot and the Greenhouse Folly. Ariadne has a role in both, so she could make a comeback. Elephants Can , in particular, is one Hercule Poirot movie audiences are hoping is made. Ariadne would have a prime role if this movie happened, as the story revolves around her and her family. In the book, Ariadne's granddaughter requests her help with solving her parents' murder.

For those that are looking to see Ariadne on-screen outside A Haunting in Venice, a number of movies involving her have already been released. Although Fey is not involved in these projects, they do allow viewers to understand more about Ariadne's character and her backstory. Ariadne was first portrayed by Jean Stapleton in the 1986 adaptation of Dead Man's Folly. Zoë Wanamaker also played her in the series Agatha Christie's Poirot. Based on the character's involvement in these projects, it's clear that she fits right into movie adaptations and would be a great addition to any A Haunting in Venice sequels or spinoffs.

Source: Variety, Agatha Christie