Netflix's new mystery movie with Pierce Brosnan and Helen Mirren gets first trailer — and it looks like charming chaos
Richard Osman has become a beloved figure in British pop culture. After years on TV, he's made a hugely successful leap into fiction with his hit 'Thursday Murder Club' book series, which follows a group of elderly friends in a retirement home who solve both cold and current murder cases.
Now, the first book has been adapted into a star-studded Netflix movie, bringing these fan-favorite characters to the screen for the first time.
Netflix just dropped the first trailer for 'The Thursday Murder Club,' and it already looks like a hilariously fun watch. I'll never say no to a good mystery flick, especially one starring Pierce Brosnan and Helen Mirren.
This movie's been on my radar ever since Netflix released some first-look images last month, earning it a spot on my must-watch summer list. Based on Osman's 2020 debut novel, the story follows four retirees in a quiet English village whose true-crime club turns serious when they find themselves investigating an actual murder.
The upcoming Netflix movie, helmed by director Chris Columbus and backed by Steven Spielberg's Amblin Entertainment, will debut on the platform on August 28, 2025.
The trailer gives us our first look at Helen Mirren as Elizabeth, Pierce Brosnan as Ron and Ben Kingsley as Ibrahim, as they cross paths with Celia Imrie's character, Joyce, during their pursuit of a decades-old mystery from 1973.
We also see Joyce getting a bit too enthusiastic when a real, modern-day murder suddenly shakes things up. The preview offers quick peeks at characters played by Naomi Ackie and Ingrid Oliver as well.
Get instant access to breaking news, the hottest reviews, great deals and helpful tips.
It's easy to draw comparisons to other popular murder mysteries. 'Only Murders in the Building' immediately comes to mind, though this one doesn't have the younger-gen appeal. You can also spot some clear influences from Rian Johnson's 'Knives Out' movies in the mix, with a similar blend of mystery and playful comedy. I'm already on board.
Along with the first trailer, we also have an official synopsis thanks to Netflix: 'Based on Richard Osman's international bestselling novel of the same name, The Thursday Murder Club follows four irrepressible retirees — Elizabeth (Helen Mirren), Ron (Pierce Brosnan), Ibrahim (Ben Kingsley) and Joyce (Celia Imrie) — who spend their time solving cold case murders for fun.
'When an unexplained death occurs on their own doorstep, their casual sleuthing takes a thrilling turn as they find themselves with a real whodunit on their hands.'
Columbus told Netflix: 'This is the finest cast I've worked with since Potter. They're just so incredibly well-prepared, and it's because they do everything. They do theater, they do television, they do film, and they've developed those sorts of muscles.'
The full cast includes Helen Mirren, Pierce Brosnan, Ben Kingsley, Celia Imrie, Naomi Ackie, Daniel Mays, Henry Lloyd-Hughes, Tom Ellis, Jonathan Pryce, David Tennant, Paul Freeman, Geoff Bell, Ingrid Oliver, and Richard E. Grant. It's likely that some of these actors will show up as small (but incredibly fun) cameos.
Osman has expanded 'The Thursday Murder Club' into a full book series, with four follow-up novels — the latest, The Impossible Fortune, is set to release this September. So if the Netflix adaptation is a hit, it could easily pave the way for a full-fledged movie franchise.
When speaking with Netflix about the story, Columbus said: 'There's a wonderful mystery at its core, so mystery fans will be very happy. But thematically it's interesting that we've got four elderly people who are living in a retirement community and who are fascinated by death and murder. They are facing their own demise, yet at the same time they are obsessed with studying cold cases. I fell in love thematically with that. It's comedic, but it's also very emotional.'
These words alone already have me intrigued. I love a good whodunit, and knowing it's based on a book people rave about makes me even more curious to see how it plays out on screen. Plus, Pierce Brosnan and Helen Mirren? Say no more.
Stream "The Thursday Murder Club" on Netflix starting August 28.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
CNET
an hour ago
- CNET
Netflix Tudum 2025: How to Watch the Star-Studded Event Live
It's nearly time for Tudum LIVE, the annual fan event celebrating all things Netflix. The 90-minute-long party is scheduled to take place on Saturday, May 31, at the Kia Forum in Los Angeles. An official trailer teases some of the streamer's biggest titles, including Wednesday, Stranger Things 5, One Piece, Squid Game 3 and Happy Gilmore 2. Along with the selection of popular properties they'll be highlighting, viewers should also expect to see the streamer's biggest stars gracing the stage to give a peek at all the good stuff coming this year. "This must-see event will feature Netflix's biggest stars, can't-miss performances, jaw-dropping reveals and unforgettable moments," the streamer revealed. Does this mean Wednesday star Jenna Ortega will share the spotlight with Adam Sandler and Millie Bobby Brown? It certainly sounds like it and I may just be scratching the surface here. Other titles like Guillermo del Toro's Frankenstein, Emily in Paris, Outer Banks and The Rip (starring Ben Affleck and Matt Damon) are also on the docket for the event. Plus, Lady Gaga fans can catch a performance by the singer. The Tudum LIVE festival was born in 2020, making its debut at the Bienal Pavilion in São Paulo, Brazil. Since then, the fan party has grown exponentially, evolving into a multi-level experience fans can partake in, no matter where they are in the world. You can watch the 2025 event from home with any Netflix plan -- here's what time it starts. How to watch Netflix Tudum 2025 If you want to watch the show and are unable to attend in person, Netflix has you covered. The streamer will livestream Tudum LIVE on Netflix on May 31 at 5 p.m. PT (8 p.m. ET, 1 a.m. BST, 10 a.m. AEST).
Yahoo
2 hours ago
- Yahoo
Hawk that attacked bald men is adopted by a bald man
A Harris Hawk that attacked bald men in a village has been adopted by a bald man. The bird of prey, nicknamed 'Bomber Harris', attacked over 50 people in Flamstead, Hertfordshire, during a four-week reign of terror in March. A falconer who helped trap the hawk previously told The Telegraph the bird 'saw bald men' and attacked them because it was 'hormonal'. But the bird has now been adopted by Wayne Housden, a falconer who has recently had a buzz cut. The 58-year-old village warden told The Telegraph that Bomber had changed – pointing to the fact he could shave his head without fear of attack. 'If you looked at me now, you'd say, 'he's bald',' Mr Housden said. 'I'm not worried about him. I've shaved my head and, when I shaved it, it was to the bone. 'But I go into his aviary and he doesn't attack me.' Mr Housden, who lives near Flamstead, described his new friend as 'really tame', adding: 'He wasn't terrible. He was more scared than anything when he was caught. 'I can kiss him on the head. He nibbles around my neck and on my chin... He's so friendly to me. He's obsessed with me.' For four weeks last year Flamstead ground to a halt. Postmen stopped delivering mail, fearful scaffolders left work unfinished and villagers would not dare leave their homes without a hat, umbrella or hooded coat to protect themselves. The siege was finally brought to an end when Steve Harris, 40, threw a cage over the bird after it followed him into his back garden. The physiotherapist and father-of-two, who had been returning from a run, told The Telegraph that he and his children had not been in their garden for 'weeks and weeks' because of the attacks. Credit: BBC/Roy Lambden Mr Housden, who also owns another falcon, said that he had decided to adopt the bird after the police contacted him for help. Bomber is now housed in a new £1,000 aviary which was built by Mr Housden. The falconer said the idea that the bird might attack someone again was 'always in the back of your head' but added that 'he's got to go loose'. He said that he has already started taking Bomber on excursions, including a visit to his friend's house. 'He's calmed down', Mr Housden added. 'He needed to calm down.' Asked whether he thought the bird was misunderstood, he said: 'Yes he was. 'He's going to be going to a scarecrow festival in Flamstead and he will end up meeting everyone that he's hit on the head, so they will all see how he's changed.' Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 1 month with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more.
Bloomberg
3 hours ago
- Bloomberg
YouTube's Victory in the TV Wars Depends on Parents
Here's a stat that might come as a shock to casual observers of the media ecosystem: The media company that commands the largest percentage of our eyeballs is not the mighty Netflix Inc., the Walt Disney Co. juggernaut or the omnipresent Inc. Prime. It's YouTube. The platform represents 12.4% of audiences' time spent watching television, according to Nielsen Holding Ltd.'s Media Distributor Gauge report for April. That beats Disney's 10.7% (which includes not only the platforms and channels that bear its name but ESPN and Hulu to boot), nearly doubles the 6.8% and 6.7% for Fox and Warner Bros. Discovery, respectively, and pummels the puny 3.5% share for Amazon. But before we hail the platform as another nail in traditional TV's coffin, it needs to accomplish something else: earn the trust of its users, particularly parents.
