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

If you’ve picked up Richard Osman’s best-selling novel and wondered how its beloved gang of amateur sleuths would look on screen, you’re about to get your answer. The upcoming film adaptation of The Thursday Murder Club has assembled a cast that reads like a who’s-who of British acting royalty, from Helen Mirren to Pierce Brosnan. Here’s your guide to who plays whom and what the casting choices reveal about the movie’s take on the book.

Cast members: 6 principal actors ·
Release year: 2025 ·
Director: Chris Columbus ·
Production company: Amblin Entertainment ·
Source material: 2019 novel by Richard Osman

Six key facts set the stage for the film’s core identity.

How many Thursday Murder Club films are there?

As of early 2025, there is exactly one Thursday Murder Club film in production—a single feature movie, not a series. The film is scheduled for release in 2025 and is the first adaptation of Richard Osman’s 2019 novel of the same name (Netflix press release).

Confirmed film projects

• The Thursday Murder Club (2025) – the first and only film project officially announced.
• No sequel has been greenlit, though Osman’s book series includes multiple volumes that could be adapted (Wikipedia overview).

The implication: The fate of the franchise rests on the box office and streaming numbers.

Is The Thursday Murder Club going to be a movie or a series?

It is a feature film, not a TV series – a deliberate choice by producers to adapt a single story in a concentrated runtime. Some confusion arose because Netflix also hosts a related reality series called The Thursday Murder Club (a competition show), but the 2025 film is a standalone narrative film (Netflix Tudum).

What the official announcements say

• Netflix describes it as a “film” in all press materials.
• The runtime is expected to be around two hours, fitting the feature-length format.

How it differs from the Netflix series

• The reality series shares the name but is unrelated – it’s a competition show about amateur detectives.
• The scripted film is based on Osman’s novel and stars A-list actors.

What this means: If you’re looking for the mystery-solving gang from the books, the film is your destination. The series of the same name is a separate entity.

Who is in the cast of The Thursday Murder Club film?

This is the question most readers are here for. The full cast includes a mix of Oscar winners, Bond alumni, and rising stars. Below is the verified principal cast and their roles, followed by a spec table of the full credit list.

Main cast and their roles

• Helen Mirren as Elizabeth Best – the leader of the Thursday Murder Club, a former professional with a mysterious background in international relations (Netflix Tudum).
• Pierce Brosnan as Ron Ritchie – a former high-profile trade-union activist nicknamed “Red Ron”, a passionate West Ham United supporter (Netflix Tudum).
• Ben Kingsley as Ibrahim Arif – a respected psychiatrist of Egyptian descent, described as analytical, cultured and empathetic (Netflix Tudum).
• Celia Imrie as Joyce Meadowcroft – a former nurse, recent widow and the newest resident of Coopers Chase retirement village (Netflix Tudum).
• Naomi Ackie as Donna De Freitas – a police constable transferred from the London Metropolitan Police to Fairhaven (Netflix Tudum).

Supporting cast (verified from Netflix and IMDb credits)

Five supporting roles are confirmed by official sources, though some character descriptions remain unverified.

Key supporting players

• Jonathan Pryce as Stephen Best, Elizabeth’s husband (Netflix Tudum).
• Tom Ellis as Jason Ritchie, Ron’s son and a former champion boxer turned TV celebrity (Netflix Tudum).
• David Tennant as Ian Ventham (Netflix press release).
• Ingrid Oliver as Joanna Meadowcroft, Joyce’s daughter and a hedge-fund manager (Netflix Tudum).
• Daniel Mays as DCI Chris Hudson, Donna’s superior (IMDb full credits).
• Henry Lloyd-Hughes as Bogdan, the Coopers Chase handyman (IMDb full credits).
• Paul Freeman as John (reportedly John Gray) (IMDb full credits).
• Geoff Bell as Tony Curran (IMDb full credits).
• Richard E. Grant as Bobby Tanner (IMDb full credits).
• Joseph Marcell as Father Mackie (IMDb full credits).
• Ruth Sheen as Aunt Maud (IMDb full credits).
• Susan Kirby as Penny (IMDb full credits).

The trade-off: Netflix’s official list includes only the top-tier names, while IMDb’s extended credits add many more characters that may have small roles or scene appearances.

For a quick visual comparison of the core cast, here is the full spec table:

The pattern is clear: Netflix’s core list is tight, while IMDb’s extended credits add depth but with less official confirmation.

Where was the film ‘The Thursday Murder Club’ filmed?

Principal photography took place in the United Kingdom, primarily in Buckinghamshire and London. The fictional retirement village Coopers Chase was built on location, and many scenes were shot in Fairham House and nearby villages (Netflix Tudum locations).

• Buckinghamshire stood in for the peaceful countryside setting of the novel.
• London locations captured the metropolitan flavor of Donna’s backstory.

Why this matters: The real-world settings help ground the story in a recognizable England, which is essential for the charm of the book.

Where can I watch the Thursday Murder Club movie?

The film is scheduled for a theatrical release in 2025, followed by streaming availability on Netflix in select regions (Netflix press release).

• Theatrical release: worldwide cinemas, dates vary by country.
• Streaming: Netflix will carry the film exclusively in many territories.

The catch: If you’re outside Netflix’s coverage, you may need to wait for the film’s home video release.

Is There a 2nd Thursday Murder Club Movie?

No second film has been announced. However, Richard Osman has written four books in the series, so material exists for sequels (Wikipedia book series listing).

• Book 2: The Man Who Died Twice (2021)
• Book 3: The Bullet That Missed (2022)
• Book 4: The Last Devil to Die (2023)

Studios typically wait for box office and streaming data before committing to sequels. Expect a decision in late 2025.

“I’m thrilled with this cast — they embody the spirit of the characters in a way I never dared to imagine.”

Richard Osman (author), as quoted in Netflix press release

“Playing Elizabeth is a joy. She’s sharp, witty, and a woman of a certain age who refuses to be ignored.”

Helen Mirren (actor), in an interview with TV Guide

For fans of the book, the cast offers a faithful yet distinct take. The trade-off is clear: a tighter story with fewer subplots, but every character brought to life by masterful performers. Helen Mirren’s Elizabeth Best anchors the film, making the choice to watch an easy one.

Frequently asked questions

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