Greta Gerwigis building an all-star cast for her upcoming adaptation ofThe Chronicles of Narnia, andEmma Mackeyhas landed a prime role as Jadis, the malevolent White Witch. This won’t be the first time Gerwig and Mackey worked together, as Mackey was part ofBarbie’s sprawling cast, but Mackey actually managed to cement her White Witch bonafides in an entirely different film: the 2022 adaptation ofDeath on the Nile.
The second film inKenneth Branagh’s take on the Hercule Poirot novels, which stars Branagh as Poirot in addition to being directed by him,Death on the Nilesees Poirot being invited to the wedding of wealthy heiress Linnet Ridgeway (Gal Gadot) and Simon Doyle (Armie Hammer). But trouble looms on the horizon: Linnet’s childhood friend Jackie (Mackey) is stalking her due to the fact that Linnet stole Simon away from her, and to escape Jackie, the newlywedsflee on a cruise down the Nile River in Egypt.
Emma Mackey Gives a Magnetic — and Menacing — Performance in ‘Death on the Nile’
Mackey’s performance as Jackie inDeath on the Nileis equal parts magnetic and menacing, particularly because no one knows what’s going to happen. One moment, she could be on the verge of tears as she confronts Simon about ending their relationship. The next, she’s stalking Linnet with the grace and the deadly intent of a tiger about to catch its prey. Even Jackie’s first scene commands attention:she decides to stroll into Linnet and Simon’s wedding, sporting a fiery red dress and a conniving smirk. But the standout sequence happens in the middle of the film, right after Linnet, Simon, and their honeymoon guests, including Poirot, have departed their cruise ship to take a tour of the Abu Simbel Temples. After Linnet is nearly crushed by a boulder, Simon unleashes a torrent of cruel words that more or less diminishes their relationship. Jackie’s response? She stares him down, saying, “you may’t get rid of me that easily, Simon.” But then, she whips a pistol out of her purse andshoots him in the leg, screaming at him in fury. It’s a scene filled to the brim with tension, and Mackey sells every moment of it.
Emma Mackey Reveals Her “Fight” to Work With Greta Gerwig on ‘Barbie’
“I shouted from the rooftops to make it happen.”
Yet for all of her character’s unpredictable tendencies, Mackey brings a tragic edge to Jackie that can’t be ignored. Her actions are less psychotic and more the lashing out of a broken-hearted woman. Considering the fact that she introduced Linnet to Simon to help her best friend, only for that best friend to steal away her lover, she has every right to be angry.This mirrors Jadis' transformation into the White Witch, which is fully detailed inThe Magician’s Nephew; she ended up battling her own family after her sister went mad with power, and spoke a spell that wiped out all the people in her land. When she travels to Narnia, she ends up seeking immortality and power, falling into the same trap as her family. Given Mackey’s performance inDeath on the Nile, she could easily pull off Jadis' rise to power.
Though Emma Mackey isundoubtedly one of the best partsofDeath on the Nile,the film dealt with a wealth of issuesthat even Hercule Poirot couldn’t have predicted. First up was the COVID-19 pandemic,which led to the release date being delayed six times. Another factor wasthe scandal surrounding Armie Hammer and other cast members, which led to a muted press tour and release. On top of that, Branagh chose to finish post-production onArtemis Fowl,pausing production onDeath on the Nilein the process.
WhenDeath on the Nilefinally arrived in theaters, it was to a muted reception anda less than stellar box office run, not to mention being outshone by another mystery film withGlass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery. Despite this, Branagh was able to release a sequel a year later withA Haunting in Venice,while Mackey has continued to rack up roles. Fans waiting for Greta Gerwig’sChronicles of Narniashould definitely giveDeath on the Nilea watch; if nothing else, it’ll give them a clear idea of what to expect when Mackey dons the White Witch’s robes.
Death on the Nileis available to rent from Prime Video.
Death on the Nile
