First Look at ‘The Thursday Murder Club’

Preview:

• The first look at Netflix’s crime novel adaptation ‘The Thursday Murder Club’ has landed.
• Pierce Brosnan, Helen Mirren and Ben Kingsley lead the cast.
• The movie hits Netflix on 28th August.

We’ve known for around a year now that Netflix and Steven Spielberg’s adaptation of the popular ‘Thursday Murder Club’ series by TV host/producer-turned-author Richard Osman is on the way, ever since the film announced casting with Pierce Brosnan, Helen Mirren, Ben Kingsley and Celia Imrie landing the lead roles.

That’s quite a murderer’s row of casting –– pun entirely intended, since the book and resulting film will fall cleanly into the cozy murder mystery genre that the UK does so well –– and cements the latest big move for Osman, whose novel series has been a massive bestseller.

With Chris Columbus calling the shots, we now have the first look at the movie, and particularly the leads in the middle of their latest case. And if this one is a success, we can surely expect more.

Other books in the series include ‘The Man Who Died Twice,’ ‘The Bullet That Missed,’ and ‘The Last Devil to Die,’ as well as the newest installment ‘The Impossible Fortune,’ which is released later this year.

Here’s Osman’s statement on his inspiration for the stories –– spending time at his own mother’s retirement home:

“You just sit and chat with these people and they’ve lived these extraordinary lives. You hear these amazing stories and gossip and wisdom. You think, ‘These people are so overlooked.’ The idea that these people with their wisdom and their invisibility would be the perfect people to solve a crime is exactly where ‘The Thursday Murder Club’ comes from. Take these people who are underestimated but who have these incredible skills, put them together, and they can achieve anything.”

What’s the story of ‘The Thursday Murder Club’?

Osman’s book, the first in a series follows four irrepressible retirees –– Elizabeth (Mirren), Ron (Brosnan), Ibrahim (Kingsley) and Joyce (Imrie) –– who spend their time solving cold case murders for fun.

When an unexplained death occurs on their own doorstep, their casual sleuthing takes a thrilling turn as they find themselves with a real whodunit on their hands.

And this is no ordinary group of retirees –– they all bring a particular set of skills to the table. Mirren’s Elizabeth is a former spy, Kingsley’s Ibrahim worked as a psychiatrist, Brosnan’s Ron spend his days as a union activist and Imrie’s Joyce was a nurse.

Here’s what Columbus said about that main cast:

“This is the finest cast I’ve worked with since ‘Potter.’ They’re just so incredibly well-prepared, and it’s because they do everything. They do theater, they do television, they do film, and they’ve developed those sorts of muscles.”

Related Article: Pierce Brosnan Talks Director Terry Loane’s Drama ‘The Last Rifleman’

Who is making ‘The Thursday Murder Club’ movie?

Osman sold the rights to Spielberg’s Amblin company in 2020, shortly after the first book became a hit, and development quietly proceeded along.

So, who did the company chose to adapt a popular series of novels set in the UK it hopes will spawn a successful franchise (and has form working with Spielberg)? That would be Columbus, who helped kick off the gigantic ‘Harry Potter’ film series!

With Osman aboard as an executive producer, production happened last year and the first trailer should be on the way before we know it.

And though the concept might seem more niche than the adventures of a boy wizard, the casting will certainly help push the idea here and beyond.

While it originally looked like Columbus would pull double duty and also write the script, the adaptation instead come courtesy of actor and ‘Good Luck to You, Leo Grande’ writer Katy Brand and Suzanne Heathcote, whose credits include ‘Fear the Walking Dead,’ Apple TV+ series ‘The Crowded Room’ and a season of ‘Killing Eve.’

Who else is appearing in ‘The Thursday Murder Club’?

Beyond that starry main cast, we also have the likes of Naomi Ackie, Daniel Mays, Henry Lloyd-Hughes, Tom Ellis, Jonathan Pryce, David Tennant, Paul Freeman, Geoff Bell,Richard E. Grant and Ingrid Oliver.

And we have a few character details for some of those…

Ackie is Donna De Freitas, a local police officer and good friend to the Club’s members.

Jonathan Pryce plays Stephen, husband to Mirren’s Elizabeth.

Tom Ellis will be as Jason Ritchie, Ron’s (Brosnan) son and a retired boxer.

Sarah Niles has the role of Patrice De Freitas, Donna’s mother.

Ingrid Oliver will be Joanna Meadowcroft, Joyce’s (Imrie) daughter.

When will ‘The Thursday Murder Club’ be on Netflix.

Along with the first look photos, Netflix has announced that the movie will head to its servers on August 28th.

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