The Thursday Murder Club by Richard Osman is being adapted into a movie by Steven Spielberg’s Amblin Entertainment. For all the details on this upcoming book to movie adaptation, here’s what we know about the Thursday Murder Club movie:
What’s it about? What’s the plot of The Thursday Murder Club?
The Thursday Murder Club is a jaunty and light-hearted cozy mystery focused on four friends — the titular Thursday Murder Club — living in a retirement village called Coopers Chase who enjoy getting together on Thursdays to investigate and solve cold cases.
Then, just before a large new development is soon to break ground in Coopers Chase, the main builder is murdered, with the killer leaving a photograph let next to the body. The Thursday Murder Club immediately gets on the case, but when another body is found, the plot thickens and the group knows they need to find the killer before it’s too late!
The Thursday Murder Club was published in September 2020 and is planned as a series. The second book in the series was released in September 2021.
See the Full Review and Summary of The Thursday Murder Club from The Bibliofile.
What format will it be? Will The Thursday Murder Club adaptation be a Movie or a Series?
It’s planned as a feature movie, with tentative plans to possibly become a series of movies (since the books are planned as a series).
According to author Richard Osman, he says “they might go a little bit younger” in terms of casting the movie. While the characters in the books are all in their seventies, because movies tend to be filmed one or two years apart, they might cat slightly younger actors (“people in their 50s and 60”) in order to account for the years it’ll take to film if it does become a movie series.
Who’s behind it?
Steven Spielberg’s Amblin Entertainment owns the worldwide film rights for The Thursday Murder Club. Amblin is producing the movie with Ol Parker slated to direct.
What’s the status of The Thursday Murder Club adaptation?
The adaptation is currently in development.
Who’s in the cast?
No casting details have been released yet.
See the full cast (when available) on IMDB.
When will it be released?
Currently unknown.
Is there a trailer or teaser available?
Not yet! Stay tuned.
The Thursday Murder Club Movie Development Timeline
March 5, 2020 ‘Mamma Mia 2’ Director Ol Parker to Helm Adaptation of Richard Osman’s Novel for Amblin (EXCLUSIVE)
September 3, 2020 The Thursday Murder Club (novel) is released.
October 11, 2021 Younger actors will play Thursday Murder Club’s retired heroes in film
Disappointed not going to be a TV series and that they are casting younger actors which takes away a lot of joy and basis of the stories. A perfect cast would be: Patricia Hodge as Elizabeth; Alison Steadman as Joyce, Dennis Waterman as Ron and not sure about Ibrahim, but lot of good Asian/Middle Eastern actors around
How about Art Malik as Ibrahim. I thought Imelda Staunton or Brenda Blethyn as Joyce. Should make a very good series or film.
Not Alison Steadman as Joyce please! She left her best friend Shirley to her own in greece for a guy she briefly met on the plane, remember?
I’m so glad you said Dennis Waterman, he’s been crystal clear as Ron in my mind since book one.
I’m almost sad for Judy Dench that no one has said her for Elizabeth. Now that I’ve got Helen Mirren in my head I agree that she’d be wonderful, but especially with the 007 role I’ll keep picturing Elizabeth as Judy Dench.
Celia Imrie is a perfect joyce, as close as you can get to Maggie Smith for Elizabeth, and Colm Meany for Ron. That’s my vote.
I would love to see Emma Thompson as Elizabeth!
ooo yes I would love that!
Honestly, I don’t mind if they go a little younger but if they move this from the UK to the US, I will riot. They did a terrible job with “The Girl on the Train” and these books are so culturally British that the movie will absolutely lose it’s heart if they Americanize it so to speak.
You are right. It would not work here in the States.
Yes I totally agree, keep it 100% British as it should be.
DO NOT Americanise it.!
I think Penny Wilton is a perfect Joyce. When I read the books penny wilton is the voice I hear for Joyce’s part
Penelope Wilton would make a perfect Joyce! I would be so happy
Personally, I can’t get beyond Julie Walters as Joyce.
Definitely Penelope Wilton as Joyce….she’d be perfect!
There is only one Elisabeth (Spelt with an S not a Z) for me and that’s Helen Mirren. An ideal part for her personality portrayed in so many other films.
I agree, this is essentially a British, English film especially for those who have read the books.
Come on Steven, recognise the above and produce the film at Pinewood please!
This is what I thought to. Perfect.
I’m American, and this could work set on America, but completely comfortable with it in England. There is no one else but Helen M. As Elisabeth.
Helen Mirren as Elizabeth, Joanna Lumley as Joyce, Art Malik as Ibrahim, Ray Winston as Ron, not sure about Chris or Donna
I had pictured Ray Winstone and Art Malik in those parts from the very start (Harry Enfield possibly for Ron ). Also have Justin Edwards down for Chris and Pippa Bennet-Warner for Donna. Less clear on the female TMC members.
I hope they don’t cast younger actors as Penelope Wilton would make a great Joyce
I have read The Thursday Murder Club and it is Excellent, I have the 2nd Book but haven’t read it yet., I would have thought a Good Cast would be: Helen Mirren as Elizabeth, Judi Dench or Alison Steadman as Joyce, Kenneth Cranham or Geoffrey Freshwater as Ron and Kriss DossanJh as Ibrahim
I was thinking Pauline Collins for Joyce and Alun Armstrong or Jim Broadbent as Ron.
I hope it stays true to the books. I thought it was perfect for a TV mini series
Just read other comments. It. Must stay in England. And definitely Art Malick as Ibrihem. I could do Joyce if only I could act.
I’d thought TV series as well but a series of films can be just as good. I agree should be either Helen Mirren or Eileen Atkins as Elizabeth and Penelope Wilton as Joyce. While Kenneth Cranham might be a good shout for Ron, I also wondered about either David Ross or Ron Cook. I think Silas Carson would be awesome as Ibrahim.
Cannot wait for this! Everyone here has made some good suggestions as to cast with my favourites being Celia Imrie or Alison Steadman for Joyce, Helen Mirren for Elizabeth (though Penelope Wilton would make a different choice for Elizabeth!), and Dennis Waterman or Colm Meany for Ron. Unfortunately, I’m not as up on British actors of Asian descent in the right age group, but if they’re casting a bit younger, maybe Sanjeev Bhaskar? I always like him.
But most of all, I agree with KEEP IT BRITISH! I’m not even from Britain (I’m Canadian) but this is absolutely vital. I see what Americans do to British programs and it’s horrible. It’s as if someone pays them to purposely wreck whatever adaptation they’re doing. I think the last (and possibly only) good American-made adaptation from a British show was “All in the Family,” and that was over fifty years ago. Hmm…and Norman Lear is still producing despite being a few weeks from his 100th birthday — if they dare to Americanize this, they should at least get him to do it.
As long as no one lets Hallmark get their hands on it! They have made a grand mess of many good book adaptations.
Penelope Wilton or Helen Mirren for Elizabeth, Alison Steadman for Joyce, Kenneth Cranham or Ray Winstone as Ron, Bill Nighy as Stephen and David Strathairn as Ibrahim. What a dream team!
I love Kenneth Cranham, but Jim Carter would be superb as Ron! And my first choice for Elizabeth is Eileen Atkins.
Also surely Roshan Seth would be perfect as Ibrahim, and if Jim Carter was on board then Imelda Staunton could play Joyce (sorry Imelda for making out you are a little old woman with white hair.) My awful fear is that they will get Vinnie Jones to play Jason! Maybe Jason Isaacs instead?
If Stephen Spielberg sees this, please could he consider Daniel Peacock as Ron. He is wonderful and his half-brother Harry can play the boxer son, so there you go, family resemblance sorted. Danny Peacock is the most superb, funny and touching actor, and I spout all this rubbish having never met him so I am certainly not his girlfriend just A Concerned Audience-Member. Also his bro Harry is extremely funny and as there is a big gap between their ages Harry who is quite macho could easily pass for Danny’s son even tho Danny is sort of small & wizened but that’s why we love him and personally I think he is very sexy. Please Spielberg you rich influential astard (I think there was something missing there) cast the wonderful Danny Peacock in your film!! Love, Moll x
How bizarre! I was thinking of Daniel Peacock for Ron. Strange considering he’s not really that big of a name anymore (not that he ever really was THAT big, not even in the 80s). But I’ve always liked him and he’d be perfect.
Elizabeth: Helen Mirren
Joyce: Penelope Wilton
Ibrahim: Anupam Kher
Ron: Bill Nighy
Donna: Daisy Edgar Jones
I agree that Patricia Hodge is the perfect Elizabeth.
Pity she’s not an actress but I always picture Daphne Fowler as Joyce.
I have just finished the third book can’t wait for the movie and understand why they have set slightly younger cast but definitely British all the way as to cast mmm
Elizabeth – Helen mirren / Patrica hodge
Joyce – Pauline collins
Ron- Jim carter
Ibrahim- Art Malik
Stephen- Bill Nighy
I can’t wait for the movie and I hope it will be turned into a series. If the movie is only nearly as good as the book I know I will love it. I hope the author will get a lot of input into the waiting of the film. I am currently reading the third book in the series. I want more
I agree with a number of the casting suggestions made in these comments but mostly I wholeheartedly agree, DO NOT AMERICANIZE THIS!!!!! And, by the way I am an American who loves British productions, both cinema and television. I was appalled by what happened to the wonderful movie Death at a Funeral when the American version was released. The Brits do mysteries best!
I rather fancy Zoe Wanamaker as Elizabeth or maybe Celia Imrie. Definitely Harry Enfield for Ron. What about Felicity Kendall for Joyce?
Bradley Walsh for Ron?
Fiona Shaw for Elizabeth
If you heard the Audible version of the books, with Lesley Manville narrating the first two, you would be hard-pressed to find another person who would do a better Joyce. While she was great taking on the various personalities of all of the characters, her Joyce is simply sublime. I’ve read and listened to the books and Manville takes them to a whole other level. She IS Joyce and I hope Spielberg has listened to the audio version and she is cast as Joyce. Helen Mirren would be great as Elizabeth.
I agree with Rob: Elizabeth has always been Patricia Hodge. Joyce also has been Felicity Kendal ( as a nurse myself, I know the look of an a&e nurse) they both have eyes that tell their story. Brian Cox for ‘red’ Ron- with a Brummy accent. Ciaran Hindes for Bogdan. Tim McInnerny for Stephen, Elizabeth’s husband. Jeffrey Mission would be a great Dr. Ibrahim. I can’t fathom a good Donna or Chris though….
I think Helen mirren or Maggie smith as Elizabeth, Annette crosbie as Joyce, ray wins tone as Ron, not sure about ibrahim.
I agree with Paul, should have been a 6 parter TV series.
Alison steadman, definitely but as Elizabeth.. How about Martin Shaw as Ron (Dennis W dead, sadly) and Art Malik as Ibrahim (great actor). Penelope Wilton as Joyce? So many great oldies about to choose from. Let’s hope they don’t put any Americans in it!!
If going younger (per ROs comments) maybe Emma Thompson or Miranda Richardson.
Lee Ingleby for Chris the detective. Thinks it’s Chris, haven’t got the book in front of me!
My vote is for Felicity Kendal as Joyce.
Bill Nighy would be perfect as Stephen — especially as he has a bigger role in books 3-4