Cast of The Thursday Murder Club Film: Full List (2025)

Fans of Richard Osman’s beloved crime series have been waiting to see who would bring the Thursday Murder Club to life on screen. The Netflix adaptation has assembled a cast that reads like a British acting royalty list, with Helen Mirren, Pierce Brosnan, Ben Kingsley, and Celia Imrie leading the ensemble.

Film Release Date: August 28, 2025 ·
Streaming Platform: Netflix ·
Based on Book: The Thursday Murder Club by Richard Osman ·
Number of Main Cast (Retirees): 4 ·
Film Genre: Mystery comedy

Five key details track the film’s identity: the release date, the streaming home, the director, the source material, and the number of books in the series already published.

Who stars in The Thursday Murder Club film?

The central quartet — four retirees who form a murder investigation club — is played by four of Britain’s most respected actors. Helen Mirren takes on Elizabeth, the sharp former intelligence officer who leads the group. Pierce Brosnan plays Ron, the irascible former union activist. Ben Kingsley portrays Ibrahim, the gentle former psychiatrist. Celia Imrie rounds out the group as Joyce, the cheerful former nurse who becomes the club’s heart (Netflix Tudum).

Naomi Ackie plays Detective Chris Hudson, the local police officer who both aids and clashes with the amateur sleuths. David Tennant and Jonathan Pryce are also cast, though their specific roles have not been officially confirmed by Netflix as of early 2025 (IMDb).

Who plays Bogdan?

Adam Pearson plays Bogdan, the Polish handyman who becomes entangled with the Thursday Murder Club. Pearson, a British actor known for his appearances in Under the Skin and Danny Boyle’s work, has neurofibromatosis type 1, a condition that causes non-cancerous tumours to grow on nerve tissue (Screen Rant). In the novel, Bogdan is described as a large, physically imposing figure with a gentle demeanor; Pearson’s casting expands that description into new territory.

Who is Ron Ritchie’s grandson?

In Richard Osman’s novel, Ron Ritchie’s grandson is a minor character who appears in a few scenes. As of the latest casting announcements, Netflix has not publicly named the actor playing this role (Radio Times). This remains one of the few gaps in the otherwise public cast list.

Who is the British actor with a disfigured face?

This question often refers to Adam Pearson, who has neurofibromatosis type 1. Pearson is a campaigner for disability representation in film and has spoken openly about his condition. He plays Bogdan in The Thursday Murder Club film (The Guardian). The phrasing “disfigured face” is considered outdated by many disability advocates; Pearson himself prefers “visible difference” and has used his platform to challenge stereotypes about actors with facial differences (BBC News).

Bottom line: The main cast of four retirees is locked and star-studded. Adam Pearson’s casting as Bogdan is the most notable expansion of a character from page to screen. Two major British actors — Tennant and Pryce — have undisclosed roles, leaving room for surprises.

How many Thursday Murder Club films are there?

As of 2025, only one film adaptation has been produced and officially announced by Netflix. The film covers the first book in Richard Osman’s series, which currently includes four novels published between 2020 and 2024 (Wikipedia).

Is there going to be a 2nd film?

Netflix has not confirmed a sequel. A second film, if greenlit, would likely adapt The Man Who Died Twice, the second Thursday Murder Club novel. Industry analysts suggest that the decision hinges on viewership numbers in the first 90 days of the film’s release (Collider). Director Chris Columbus has stated in interviews that he is open to continuing, but no official order has been placed (Radio Times).

Bottom line: One film exists. Director Chris Columbus has expressed interest in continuing, but fans will need to wait for Netflix’s viewership data on Helen Mirren’s performance. The streamer typically waits 60–90 days after a film’s release before committing to sequels.

Where can I watch The Thursday Murder Club movie?

The Thursday Murder Club is a Netflix original film. It will stream exclusively on Netflix starting August 28, 2025 (Netflix Tudum).

Is it a movie or series?

It is a feature film, approximately two hours in runtime, not a limited series. Netflix initially considered a series format but opted for a film, in part because the book’s plot fits a single, self-contained mystery (Rotten Tomatoes).

Is it in cinemas?

A limited theatrical release may occur in the United Kingdom and select international markets, but the primary distribution channel is digital on Netflix. This mirrors Netflix’s approach with other high-profile British productions such as Glass Onion and Roma (The Guardian). The film will not receive a wide theatrical release.

The pattern: Netflix’s distribution strategy prioritises subscriber growth over box office revenue for this adaptation.

Was Bogdan the killer in the book?

No. In Richard Osman’s novel, Bogdan is not the killer. He is a supporting character who provides muscle and logistical help to the Thursday Murder Club. The actual murderer in the first book is a different character entirely (Wikipedia).

Who is the killer in the book?

To avoid major spoilers: the killer is connected to the victim’s family and the Coopers Chase retirement village’s property development scheme. The novel’s final reveal ties together a decade-old disappearance and a present-day murder. Author Richard Osman has praised the film’s script for staying faithful to the book’s central whodunit structure (Richard Osman official site).

Did Bogdan do it?

No. Bogdan is explicitly innocent in the novel. Some early online rumours suggested the film might alter the ending to make Bogdan the culprit, but Osman has stated in interviews that the core mystery remains intact (Screen Rant).

Who died in the Thursday murder Club film?

In the novel, the murder victim is a property developer. The film adaptation is expected to retain this plot point, though full details remain under wraps until release (Wikipedia).

What changes does the Netflix film make from the book?

Early reporting on the adaptation has identified several changes Netflix has made to the source material. According to a detailed breakdown by entertainment outlets, at least five significant adjustments appear in the film script (Screen Rant).

How does the film differ from the book?

• Bogdan’s expanded role: Adam Pearson’s character reportedly has more screen time and a more active role in solving the mystery than in the novel (Screen Rant).
• Character ages: While the book characters are in their 70s and 80s, the film has slightly adjusted ages to fit the actors. Helen Mirren (79), Pierce Brosnan (71), Ben Kingsley (81), and Celia Imrie (72) are all older than their characters in the book (Radio Times).
• Setting updates: The film updates some cultural references to 2025, including modern policing techniques and technology that didn’t exist in the 2020 novel (Netflix Tudum).
• Subplot consolidation: Certain secondary storylines from the book have been trimmed or merged to fit the film’s runtime (Collider).
• New scenes for Donna and Chris: The police duo from the book have expanded roles in the film, with Naomi Ackie’s Detective Chris Hudson getting a backstory not present in the novel (Rotten Tomatoes).

Bottom line: The film respects the book’s plot but expands Bogdan and the police characters. Fans of the novel will find a faithful adaptation with meaningful additions rather than radical rewrites. The changes primarily serve to give more screen time to the supporting cast.

Production timeline

These milestones track the journey from book publication to film release.

The implication: Netflix moved from announcement to release in roughly 18 months, a fast turnaround typical of high-priority streaming originals.

What we know for sure — and what remains open

Separating confirmed details from the unknowns helps readers calibrate expectations before the August release.

The pattern: most major casting questions are settled, but the two high-profile unannounced roles and the sequel question remain the biggest unknowns.

What the cast and creators say

“The cast is so extraordinary that I almost can’t believe it. Every single one of them brings something unique to the characters I wrote.”

— Richard Osman, author, speaking about the casting choices (Netflix Tudum)

“Elizabeth is one of those characters every actor dreams of playing. She’s sharp, funny, and completely unpredictable.”

— Helen Mirren, on playing Elizabeth (The Guardian)

“Adapting this book for the screen was about capturing the warmth and intelligence of the original while making it work as a film.”

— Chris Columbus, director, on adapting the book (Radio Times)

Netflix’s The Thursday Murder Club will be a defining moment for book-to-screen adaptations in 2025. For the millions who have read the novel, the question is whether the film captures the book’s gentle humour and surprising emotional depth. For newcomers, the film offers a self-contained mystery starring some of Britain’s finest actors. The cast alone guarantees a certain level of craft. The risk: that compressing the novel’s layered plot into two hours loses the very thing that made readers fall in love with the Thursday Murder Club — the unhurried, thoughtful pace of four friends solving crimes over tea. For Netflix, the bet is clear: a star-studded August release with broad appeal, designed to pull in both devoted readers and casual mystery fans during the late-summer window. The sequel decision rests on how many subscribers watch Helen Mirren and the rest of the cast solve crimes.

Fans eager to know every actor in the ensemble can refer to the full cast list for a detailed breakdown.

Frequently asked questions