David Tennant loves role of sinister villain terrorising Hollywood's biggest names in new Netflix murder mystery
KILLING IT David Tennant loves role of sinister villain terrorising Hollywood's biggest names in new Netflix murder mystery
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DAVID TENNANT is killing it as a ruthless villain in his new murder mystery movie – while taking on some of the biggest names in showbiz.
The Scots actor stars in Netflix film The Thursday Murder Club alongside The Queen icon Dame Helen Mirren, James Bond star Pierce Brosnan and Gandhi actor Sir Ben Kingsley.
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There's lots of huge names in the cast.
Credit: Giles Keyte/Netflix
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The movie is based on Richard Osman's book.
Credit: Cr. Giles Keyte / Courtesy of Ne
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David still tries to see the good qualities of his character.
They play a bunch of golden oldies who solved cold cases for fun until the death of builder Tony Curran at their retirement village left them facing a real whodunnit.
But cracking the case proves tough as David's character Ian Ventham, who owns the Coopers Chase complex, is determined to oust them so he can redevelop the site.
The Doctor Who actor, of Bathgate, West Lothian, said of playing unscrupulous Ventham: 'He's got all the signs of success, but he's facing a big divorce settlement and he needs to make more money fast.
'He lacks empathy, diplomacy and charisma and he's self-interested to an alarming extent.
'Originally, Ventham was brought in by Tony Curran to develop the Coopers Chase retirement village.
'But after Curran's death, he intends to push ahead with a plan to displace the residents and redevelop the site.'
Despite the fact 'sinister' Ventham has few redeeming qualities, David still tries to see the good in him.
He said: 'He's not the most sympathetic character. You're always trying to see your character's point of view, so I don't particularly see him as a villain or as a ne'er do well.
'He's just someone who's got himself in a very particular situation and doesn't have the people skills to get through life with as much charm as one might hope he should have.'
The movie plot is based on former Pointless presenter Richard Osman's bestselling novel, also The Thursday Murder Club, which was the UK's most successful book of the decade.
Star of 'The Thursday Murder Club' looks unrecognisable on set
Film director Chris Columbus, famed for Harry Potter, Home Alone and Mrs Doubtfire, said he had a lifelong ambition to see David cast in one of his productions.
He explained: 'David Tennant is simply one of our greatest living actors. I was a huge fan of his performances in shows like Broadchurch and Des, along with his theatre work in Macbeth.
'David's name was soon added to the list of actors I vowed to someday work with. I was thrilled when he agreed to play Ian Ventham in our film.
'He has the ability to portray a sinister villain like Ventham, a man with very few redeeming qualities, and make the audience believe that this person truly exists, that they are watching a real human being on screen.'
Helen Mirren plays Elizabeth Best, the leader of the amateur sleuthing gang and an intelligent strategist who may have been a spy in a past life.
Meanwhile, Pierce Brosnan is Ron Ritchie, a would-be comedian, militant and high-profile trade union activist dubbed 'Red Ron' by the Press, whose son is an ex-boxing champion. His best pal is psychiatrist Ibrahim Arif, played by Ben Kingsley. And former nurse Joyce Meadowcroft, a newcomer to Coopers Chase after being widowed, is portrayed by Celia Imrie.
Helen said: 'I was one of the many millions who read the book and loved it. I couldn't put it down and was utterly charmed by it.
'And reading it, you do think 'This could be a movie'.
'I could tell immediately the character I would be most suitable for. My friends who read the book also said, 'If they ever make a movie, you have to play Elizabeth'.
'We can tell that she was someone powerful and substantial, but it's all a bit secret. Was she a high level politician? Was she a high level operative in MI5 or MI6?
'She never quite talks about it, but we get a sense. She's tough, she's smart and she's witnessed some heavy-duty things.'
But Helen reveals the film also carries an important message. She added: 'It has these absolutely serious issues within it as well, the issues that you have to deal with the further you get into your life.
'The diminishing of your mind and body, and how to deal with that. The murder mystery is the foundation, but it's not the essence.
'The essence of the film are the characters and their humanity.'
Pierce said Chris Columbus, who he worked with on 1993 Hollywood blockbuster Mrs Doubtfire, 'seems to come around every ten years or so with wonderful jobs' for him.
'Ron is a stout fellow of good character,' he added of his role. 'He doesn't particularly want to be at Coopers Chase, but there's a time in life when you just have to hang up your spurs.'
Meanwhile, Celia beamed: 'The minute I got the part, I went whizzing down to the bookshop, buying all The Thursday Murder Club copies I could lay my hands on. I was trying to find little snippets of exactly what Joyce got up to.
'Every now and then in the book, I'd find marvellous little details about Joyce's love of particular television programmes, using her napkin at the lunch table because she thinks it makes her look clever or putting the chairs out at a meeting because she thinks people will like her better.'
The Thursday Murder Club is the first of four novels, with a fifth set for release this autumn.
So far, the series has sold more than 10million copies.
Although the books have enjoyed far-reaching success, and been translated into 46 different languages, Richard didn't have to look far for inspiration.
The entire concept is based on his mum Brenda, who he hopes can show other pensioners they still have plenty left in the tank.
He said: 'My mum lives in a retirement village in the south of England. It's very beautiful, very bucolic and it looks like just the place where Agatha Christie would set a murder.
'And when I was talking to the people that live there — all over 75 — they've all done extraordinary things with their lives and have amazing stories. I thought, 'What if there was a murder here? I bet you these people could solve it'.
'That idea was what I was trying to tap into with The Thursday Murder Club — the notion that there is a generation who have done extraordinary things, have extraordinary skill sets and wisdom and they have become overlooked.
'They've become underestimated, almost invisible. And if you combine being invisible with being wise, then you have the perfect skill set for a detective.'
The Thursday Murder Club will be released on Netflix on August 28 and in selected cinemas from August 22.
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