- Movie is an adaptation of the best-selling book of the same name
- Includes a heavyweight cast of British stars
- Release is set for later this year
Cozy crime fans assemble – Netflix is bringing a movie version of smash-hit novel The Thursday Murder Club to screens later this year with a cast of stars.
The Thursday Murder Club is based on the novel of the same name, which was written by Richard Osman – who is best known in the UK for co-hosting the daytime gameshow Pointless.
The novel was a huge hit when it was released in 2020, topping the bestseller lists. With such success, it was inevitable that there would be an adaptation of it for the big screen or TV.
Amblin Entertainment originally acquired the worldwide rights to an adaptation of the book. A movie was announced in March 2022, with Ol Parker writing and directing. However, the project experienced a series of delays, including the Hollywood writers strike, and in April 2024, it was announced that Chris Columbus had replaced Parker. Soon after, it was confirmed that Netflix had acquired the project.
Here is everything we know about The Thursday Murder Club.
What is the plot?
The Thursday Murder Club are a group of 70-something residents in a retirement village who meet every Thursday to go over unsolved cases from the past to see if they can solve them.
The four residents who comprise the club are retired spy Elisabeth Best, former trade union activist Ron Ritchie, retired psychiatrist Ibrahim Arif and retired nurse Joyce Meadowcroft.
However, while this is just a hobby and strictly for fun, they suddenly get embroiled in an active case, where they put their sleuthing skills to the test.
While Netflix hasn’t released too many more details on the plot, it is thought that it will largely follow the content of the book it is adapted from. If that is the case, expect plenty of twists and turns in the plot.
Who is in The Thursday Murder Club?
The Thursday Murder Club has an all-star cast of established British stars. They include:
- Helen Mirren as Elisabeth Best
- Pierce Brosnan as Ron Ritchie
- Sir Ben Kingsley as Ibrahim Arif
- Celia Imrie as Joyce Meadowcroft. She was the last of the main four to be announced
- David Tenant as Ian Ventham
- Naomi Ackie as PC Donna De Freitas
- Tom Ellis as Jason Ritchie
- Ingrid Oliver as Joanna Meadowcroft, Joyce’s daughter. Interestingly, she is Osman’s wife.
- Daniel Mays and Richard E Grant also have roles, but they have yet to be confirmed.
Who is behind the scenes on the movie
Columbus is directing the movie, and he has co-written the script alongside British scriptwriter and comedian Katy Brand. Osman consciously decided to not be involved in writing the script, saying in an interview with Bookclub on BBC saying that “You’re either really involved or you’re not and I honestly would rather spend my time writing another book than getting involved in all of that so I absolutely left them to it.”
Hollywood legend Steven Spielberg is producing alongside Jennifer Todd.
Where can I see The Thursday Murder Club?
The movie was filmed in the UK between June and September 2024.
The Thursday Murder Club will be released this year, but the Netflix hasn’t as yet confirmed a release date. Osman has suggested that it could be released in the summer or autumn. Usually with Netflix films, it gets a limited theatrical release before it debuts on the streaming service.
