Netflix has joined forces with Amblin Entertainment to bring Richard Osman’s bestselling whodunit, The Thursday Murder Club, to the screen. The film, based on Osman’s debut novel, centres on a group of pensioners who find themselves entangled in a real murder mystery. The cast includes Helen Mirren and Pierce Brosnan, and Chris Columbus is set to direct.
Netflix continues to expand its slate of feature films with the addition of The Thursday Murder Club to its roster. The streaming giant will release the film, which is being directed and written by Chris Columbus, known for his work on beloved classics such as Home Alone and the Harry Potter series.
The Thursday Murder Club is based on the eponymous debut novel by Richard Osman, a well-known British television presenter and producer. Published in 2020, the book became an international sensation, selling over 10 million copies and topping bestseller lists. It spawned four sequels and captured the attention of renowned filmmaker Steven Spielberg, who acquired the film rights.
The story follows a group of four septuagenarian friends residing in a luxurious retirement village in Kent. Elizabeth Best, Ron Ritchie, Joyce Meadowcroft, and Ibrahim Arif meet weekly to solve cold cases as a hobby. However, their lives take an unexpected turn when a shady property developer is found dead, thrusting them into their first live murder investigation.
Three of the four key roles have been cast, with Oscar-winner Helen Mirren portraying the no-nonsense ex-spy Elizabeth Best. Pierce Brosnan, famed for his portrayal of James Bond, will play the rough-and-tough former union activist Ron Ritchie. Rounding out the trio is Ben Kingsley, who takes on the role of the mild-mannered ex-psychiatrist Ibrahim Arif. The highly anticipated announcement of the fourth lead, kind-hearted former nurse Joyce Meadowcroft, is expected soon.
In a statement, Osman expressed his delight at the adaptation: “I’m so proud of this book, so it is a dream to see The Thursday Murder Club in such incredible hands. From Chris Columbus to Amblin to Netflix, there are geniuses everywhere I look. And what a cast. I’m pinching myself.”
The film marks the latest collaboration between Netflix and Amblin Entertainment, following the upcoming action-thriller Carry-On, starring Jason Bateman and Taron Egerton. Amblin Partners, chaired by Steven Spielberg, has a longstanding relationship with Universal Pictures for film distribution. However, in 2021, they signed a multi-year deal with Netflix to produce multiple new feature films annually for the streaming platform.
With filming for The Thursday Murder Club set to commence in the UK this summer, audiences can expect a potential release in 2025.
