The crime novel series The Thursday Murder Club by Richard Osman was a smash hit, with the original book spawning three more entries, each of which propelled the author to bestseller lists worldwide.
It’s therefore no surprise that the renowned story has been snapped up by Netflix, and now has an incredible cast attached to it. If you want to know when this mystery adaptation will be released, and who is starring, we’ve rounded up everything you need to know.
We also have a similar guide for the next season of the biggest show on the platform right now, Bridgerton.
When could The Thursday Murder Club on Netflix be released?
Filming for The Thursday Murder Club adaptation is set to kick off this summer, so hopefully it shouldn’t be too long of a wait for it to land on Netflix.
A 2025 release is likely, though timings could depend on how long production takes place, and if there are any delays along the way.
Is The Thursday Murder Club on Netflix a TV series or movie?
The Thursday Murder Club on Netflix will be a movie, rather than a TV series. It will be written and directed by Chris Columbus, and produced by Jennifer Todd.
This could mean that it may get a limited theatrical release – we’ve seen this happen with other projects, such as Knives Out spin-off Glass Onion. However, no such plans have yet been confirmed.
Who is in the cast for The Thursday Murder Club on Netflix?
The four main crime-solving pensioners in the movie have now been confirmed, alongside some other key players. As you’ll see below, there are some major stars attached:
- Helen Mirren as Elizabeth Best, ex-spy and founder of the Murder Club
- Pierce Brosnan as Ron Ritchie, a former headstrong trades union official
- Sir Ben Kingsley as Ibrahim Arif, a retired psychiatrist
- Celia Imrie as Joyce Meadowcraft, a former nurse and newest recruit of the club
- Naomi Ackie as police officer Donna
- Jonathan Pryce as Stephen, Elizabeth’s husband
There have also been some more names announced, though the characters they’re playing are currently under wraps:
- David Tennant
- Danny Mays
- Henry Lloyd-Hughes
- Richard E. Grant
- Tom Ellis
- Geoff Bell
- Paul Freeman
- Ingrid Oliver
Tennant’s announcement has been met with excitement from fans – the actor had a huge year in 2023, returning to the sci-fi series Doctor Who and starring alongside Michael Sheen in the second part of Neil Gaiman’s fantasy hit, Good Omens.
What is the plot of Netfix’s The Thursday Murder Club?
Here is the official logline of the movie from Netflix:
The story follows a group of friends in a retirement home who gather to solve murders for fun, but find themselves caught in a real case. Mirren will play ex-spy Elizabeth, Kingsley will play ex-psychiatrist Ibrahim and Brosnan will play former union activist Ron.
Based on that, we can assume that the film will be based on the events of the first book, where a property developer is found dead in Kent, where the pensioners are based.
There is of course a possibility that Netflix may change things up for the film to keep audiences in suspense – we should learn more in the coming months.
The Thursday Murder Club isn’t the only popular novel being adapted – check out what we know about A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder.
Author: Hannah Cowton-Barnes, Entertainment Editor, Tech Advisor
As Tech Advisor's Entertainment Editor, Hannah is the resident expert in all things streaming, film and TV. Before joining Tech Advisor in 2019, she studied Theatre and Performance at the University of Leeds and created a website dedicated to geek culture and lifestyle. She's also reviewed a whole range of gadgets including flagship smartphones, wearables and styling tools. Outside of Foundry, she's written freelance pieces for Polygon, Metro and Den of Geek, and is proud to be a Women Techmakers Ambassador for Google.