First Look: The Thursday Murder Club film

65 Comments

Piers Brosnan is so wrong for Ron! I was really shocked when I heard the casting. He doesn’t seem to fit the character in any way. Was Ray Winstone busy? I do hope we’re not going to be subjected to Dick van Dyke cockney…

When I was reading the books I could hear the voice of Anne Reid as Elizabeth, she seems to play roles where she is a bit bossy and a know-all.

Suzy

I read someone’s suggestion of Tom Wlaschiha for Bogdan – perfect!

Poor Pierce Brosnan has his work cut out winning everyone over! I pictured someone with a more forceful physical presence, salt of the earth type as Ron. And Penelope Wilton was my choice for Joyce but Celia Imrie is good. I dreamed of Morgan Freeman as Ibrahim (he’s 87!!) and Helen Mirren as Elizabeth. Anyway I’m looking forward to seeing it :o)

Loved the books and, obviously, can’t wait for the film.
I would have loved Penelope Wilton as Joyce, but I’m sure Imelda Staunton will be equally as good!
Ray Winstone is how I picture Ron, if I’m honest…

Read the first two books so far. Starting Book 3 tonight. Film will be brilliant too. Love the cast. I am also an OAP and wish I had these adventures.

So pleasaed a movie is being made ‘ Having read all books twice so far it will be great to see them as movies.

Perfect cast. Good mix. Can’t wait for the film. There are many good actors that would fit but let them have fun together and the film will be great. All of Sweden is waiting……..

Felicity Kendal for Joye, Brenda Blethin for Elizabeth, Michael Cane for Ron.
I think Will Melor would make a great, oh heck, the policeman, Chris?!

Fiona Shaw not Mirren for Elizabeth – Fiona was brilliant as the cold but sexy spy in Killing Eve. Dawn French for Joyce – it feels like she is small in the books. Larry Lamb for Ron if not Ray Winstone.

I was so very excited when I heard that Richard Osman had been approached by these famous producers/directors to make The Thursday Murder Club into a film. I am just on my last few pages of book number 4 and you feel you know the characters very well by now. I truly hope it is brought to life by whoever plays the main four characters and I hope that no one is disappointed by how they portray them and that the actors really get into their skin and personality. I’m looking forward to also seeing the complex they live in as well as the room they conduct their meetings in every Thursday. I can’t wait for 2025 to arrive to see this film!

I think the casting is spot on for Elizabeth, Joyce and Ibrahim but Ray Winston would have been ideal as Ron, ex-trade union rep and West Ham Utd fan – perfect.

Lesley Manville as Joyce. Right age and she’s beautiful.

Great casting so far I can see Julie Walters as Joyce she would be perfect

Julie Walters for Joyce!

Julie Walters my pick for Joyce.
Cant wait to see this. Read the books several times.

Brenda Blethyn has just quit Vera. I hope she’s our Joyce.

Joanna Scanlan would be perfect for Joyce ,she can do cosy,nurturing,flirtatious as in Darling Buds of May and oh my word can she do tough and shrewd as well !!

People that think Pierce Brosnan is wrong for the role of Ron should watch the movie The Out-laws. He will be great in the role.

Emily Watson as Joyce. She is young enough to do the sequels and with makeup she ages beautifully! Plus she has an impish smile and is a wonderful actor!
She is in her 50’s. See her version of Marmee!

Lesley Manville for Joyce , for me

I think people who don’t think Pierce Brosnan is right for the part of Ron are thinking of much of his work since Remington Steele/James Bond. If you look at some of his early films, like Nomads, he’s got the street tough look and mannerisms. So no problem for me. He’s a good actor and I’m looking forward to seeing him play the part. I just hope they don’t release it only on some streaming service.

I was thinking Maureen Lipman for Elizabeth, Ray Winstone for Ron. I think Pierce would maybe suit Stephen’s role (Elizabeth’s husband). Imelda Staunton is a good shout for Joyce though, not sure about Ben Kingsley for Ibrahim, but can’t think of another.

Celia Imrie for Joyce.
Piers Brosnan completely wrong for Ron. What a disappointment.

Chris O’Dowd as Chris, Kirby Howell Baptistery as Donna, Emma Thompson as Joyce.

I vote for Fiona Shaw as Joyce!! She was brilliant as reader of the last two.

I thought someone like Patricia Routledge for Elizabeth, the slightly bossy and ‘you wouldn’t believe she was a spy’ type of character. Pierce Brosnan is definitely NOT Ron, not in a million years.

I’d vote for Penny Wilton, Imelda Staunton or possibly Brenda Blethyn as Joyce. But Brosnan as Ron? Not seeing it (but that’s why they call it acting.)

Imelda Staunton as Joyce?

Phillip Glenister as Ron for me

Simon Day would be good as Ron – if he is the right age

Ron is a big gruff guy, he was a union boss for years, so an actor with physical presence is what is needed.

Pierce Brosnan is way to pretty and lightweight to play that part given, in a later book, Ron thinks that he is not good enough for Donna’s mum. Someone with Brosnan’s looks would never think that.

I have almost finished reading this superb book and I am over the moon that a film of the book will begin shooting this Summer. As a Librarian, I find The Thursday Murder Club cleverly written, very entertaining and hilarious in parts. I think that Diane Keaton would make a good Joyce. Loving the rest of the cast. Can’t wait to see the film!

Lesley Manville for Joyce. When I saw her in Mrs ‘Arris goes to Paris I was just starting the first book. Her slightly ditzy manner was perfect for Joyce (it’s her superpower actually—people who don’t know her tend to not take her seriously).

I saw an interview where Richard said Helen Mirren and Judy Dench would be a dream but that they were too old and he wanted a younger cast to see the books through so they could be aged up and grow into their characters age. Obviously the big guns win the toss. They’ll want some return in their money.
Personally I’d rather have a bunch of lesser known actors. I’m fed up of the same faces.

I think a lot of people on here are underestimating how good an actor Pierce Brosnan is . I think Sir Ben and Dame Helen are great choices, and i hope someone like Anne Wilton is also cast

I always pictured Elizabeth as Penelope Keith.

I have someone who would be perfect for Bogdan ….. not an actor but already Bogdan! Helen Mirren perfect! Brosnan … can’t see it ….. Phil Daniels? Joyce is a tricky one …. quiet housewife with a twist! Got to be perfect 🤔

Pierce Brosnan totally miscast as Ron, need a strong Londoner type, but definitely not someone like Ray Winstone, don’t think Timothy Spall is right either. I always think of Joyce as a cross between June Whitfield and Betty White (Rose, Golden Girls), but sadly both no longer with us.

I agree with those that plump for Brenda Blethyn as Joyce. She would be perfect.

Jason Statham fir Bogdan!

To be honest I was hoping more for a TV series rather than a film, I love the books and would have liked to have seen more of a long term production. Not 100% sure of Pierce Bronson as Ron, he’s too debonair really but a good actor, so hopefully will be OK. Just hope Joyce will be cast well.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️👏👏👏👏👏

Penelope Wilton for Joyce I’m okay with Pierce, Elizabeth and Ibrahaim good choices. Who could be Bogden, has to be drop dead gorgeous 😍

I must agree with many of the comments that Pierce Brosnan is totally miss cast as Ron.

I would have thought timothy spall would have been perfect for Ron. The other 2 choices are perfect though, exactly who I pictured when I thought of actors. Celia Imrie maybe for Joyce

Brenda Blethyn for Joyce please, she’s brilliant!

I thought of Brenda Blethyn for Joyce when I heard they were making a film of the book

Helen Mirren was exactly who I thought should play Elizabeth. As for all the negativity about poor Pierce Brosnan, perhaps he’ll surprise us all. Give the man a chance. I’d love to see Penelope Wilton or Julie Walters as Joyce.

Definitely Julie Walters for Joyce and hopefully someone good to play Bogdan great character

Great to see The Thursday Murder Club on film and would have Celia Imrie as Joyce and would prefer Samantha Bond as Elizabeth but already taken in The Marlow Murder Club and for Ron anyone but Sean Bean.

When envisioning the Thursday Murder Club, I do not envision Hollywood A Listers. Rather, I would have preferred British character actors. Disappointing.

Or felicity kendal, or if slightly too elderly, how about Alison Steadman? She’s very adaptable in different roles and still very sprightly to do any rushing around.

Lesley Manville for Joyce

Helen Mirren and Ben Kingsley are wonderful choices , but I’m puzzled by Pierce Brosnan’s casting . I would have thought that someone like Tim Spall or Jim Carter were better choices .
As for Joyce , I think Penelope Wilton would be ideal .

For me, Fiona Shaw is Elizabeth and Ann Reid is Joyce. Ben Kingsley as Ibrahim is perfect but not Pierce Brosnan as Ron,sorry! Timothy Small or Jim Broadbent (maybe).

Penelope Wilton or Celia Imrie would be brilliant as Joyce

Love the casting! Suggest Judi Dench for Joyce. Maybe Blythe Danner?

This is amazing news for Richard and will result, I am sure, in a cracking film. I am a tad disappointed it wasn’t a more down-to-earth bunch as I had wanted Anne Reid with Joanna Lumley, Art Malik and Tim Spall (or someone of similar ilk) so that it retained more of a British feel than Hollywood but clearly this is a great line up so no complaints really.

Brilliant just get Julie Walters to play Joyce perfection

Helen Mirran and Ben Kingsley are great choices but Pierce Brosnan as Ron, dreadful casting in my opinion

Loved reading every book. You can actually feel part of this crazy community.

It sounds fantastic. I can’t wait for these actors to bring The Thursday Murder Club into reality.

Oh my goodness, that sounds fantastic! I can’t wait for this brilliant book to be brought to life.

Brenda Blethyn for Joyce now Vera is finishing

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