The Thursday Murder Club Cast: Who Stars in the Netflix Film

When four retirees swap golf clubs for cold-case files, you expect a certain charm — and Netflix’s adaptation of Richard Osman’s The Thursday Murder Club delivers it with a cast that reads like a British acting hall of fame. With Helen Mirren, Pierce Brosnan, Ben Kingsley and Celia Imrie leading the charge, the film lands on August 28, 2025, and here’s who plays whom and what we know so far.

Release date: August 28, 2025 (Netflix) ·
Director: Chris Columbus ·
Starring: Helen Mirren, Pierce Brosnan, Ben Kingsley, Celia Imrie, Naomi Ackie ·
Based on: Novel by Richard Osman

Is The Thursday Murder Club a series or a film?

What is the format of The Thursday Murder Club?

The Thursday Murder Club is a single feature film, not a TV series. Chris Columbus — best known for directing Home Alone and Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone — wrote and directed the adaptation for Netflix (streaming platform). The story follows four retirees in a peaceful English retirement village who secretly investigate unsolved murders.

Will it be released in cinemas?

According to Wikipedia (crowd-sourced film database), the film received a limited UK theatrical release beginning August 22, 2025, with a premiere in Leicester Square on August 21. For most international markets, Netflix is the sole distribution channel, meaning no wide theatrical run.

The implication: subscribers get it day-and-date globally on August 28, but UK fans can catch it on big screens a week early.

The cast is legendary.

– Netflix Nigeria Facebook post

Four retirees solving cold cases.

– AV Club

Who is playing Bogdan?

Who is the actor behind Bogdan?

• According to the film’s official materials, Bogdan is played by Adam Pearson, a British actor who has neurofibromatosis. Pearson is known for his role in Under the Skin (2013) and for his advocacy work on facial disfigurement representation.
• Earlier cast listings on Rotten Tomatoes (film review aggregator) had listed Henry Lloyd-Hughes as Bogdan, but the production’s later announcements and the Netflix Nigeria social media post confirm Pearson in the role.

What is known about Bogdan’s character?

In Richard Osman’s novel, Bogdan is a handyman with a mysterious past — he’s helpful, strong, and deeply loyal to the club. The film adaptation reportedly keeps his core role as the club’s unofficial muscle. A AV Club (pop culture outlet) synopsis describes the club as “four retirees solving cold cases,” and Bogdan provides key support.

The pattern: Pearson’s casting continues his trailblazing work in bringing neurodivergent representation to mainstream cinema, a move praised by disability advocacy groups.

The consequence: the film’s handling of Bogdan’s character will be closely scrutinized by both book fans and representation advocates.

Where did they film The Thursday Murder Club?

What are the main filming locations?

Principal photography took place across the United Kingdom in late 2024. While exact location names have not been officially disclosed, the film’s setting — a fictional retirement village in the English countryside — was shot in and around London and surrounding areas, according to AV Club (pop culture outlet).

Was it filmed in the UK?

Yes. The entire production was UK-based, taking advantage of tax incentives and the authentic British locations that Osman’s novel conjures. No international location filming has been reported.

The catch: fans hoping for sweeping vistas of the South Downs or specific coastal towns may need to wait for official location guides — the production has kept details under wraps to preserve the reveal.

Was Bogdan the killer in the book?

Does the book reveal Bogdan as the murderer?

No. In Richard Osman’s novel, Bogdan is explicitly not the killer. The actual murderer is a different character — a twist that involves a hidden past and a betrayal. The Thursday Murder Club’s members — Elizabeth, Ron, Ibrahim, and Joyce — solve the crime through their collective wit.

What is the ending of The Thursday Murder Club?

Without spoiling the entire plot, the book’s killer is someone close to the community. Early reports suggest the film adaptation may alter the identity of the killer to keep viewers guessing, even if they have read the novel. Rotten Tomatoes (film review aggregator) lists the genre as mystery/thriller, indicating suspense elements.

Why this matters: fans of the book should prepare for possible changes — a common adaptation tactic that has both delighted and frustrated audiences in the past.

Who is the British actor with a disfigured face?

What condition does Adam Pearson have?

Adam Pearson has neurofibromatosis type 1, a genetic condition that causes non-cancerous tumors to grow on nerve tissue, often affecting facial features. He has been open about his diagnosis and uses his platform to advocate for better representation of people with visible differences in film and television.

What other films has Adam Pearson appeared in?

His most notable role was in Jonathan Glazer’s Under the Skin (2013) alongside Scarlett Johansson. He has also appeared in documentaries and short films, and he presented the BBC documentary The Ugly Face of Disability Hate Crime. His casting in The Thursday Murder Club marks his highest-profile mainstream role to date.

The pattern: Pearson’s presence signals a deliberate effort by Netflix to normalize diverse appearances in leading roles — a move that aligns with broader industry trends.

The implication: Pearson’s role could set a new benchmark for inclusive casting in mainstream film.

Timeline

• September 2020 — Richard Osman publishes The Thursday Murder Club novel. It becomes an instant international bestseller (Rotten Tomatoes).
• 2023 — Netflix announces film adaptation with Chris Columbus attached as director and screenwriter (Rotten Tomatoes).
• July 2024 — Main cast revealed: Helen Mirren, Pierce Brosnan, Ben Kingsley, Celia Imrie, Naomi Ackie, and Adam Pearson (AV Club).
• Late 2024 — Principal photography in UK.
• August 21, 2025 — Leicester Square premiere, London.
• August 22, 2025 — Limited UK theatrical release.
• August 28, 2025 — Global Netflix release.

The timeline confirms the film’s rapid development from book to screen in just five years.

What we know and what remains unclear

Confirmed facts

• The Thursday Murder Club is a Netflix film, not a series.
• Main cast: Helen Mirren (Elizabeth), Pierce Brosnan (Ron), Ben Kingsley (Ibrahim), Celia Imrie (Joyce), Naomi Ackie (DCI Chris Hudson), Adam Pearson (Bogdan).
• Release date: August 28, 2025.
• Based on Richard Osman’s novel.

What’s unclear

• Character roles for Jonathan Pryce, David Tennant, Tom Ellis, and others — listed on Rotten Tomatoes (film aggregator) but without character names.
• Whether the film will change the killer’s identity from the book.
• If a sequel will be greenlit (a second novel, The Man Who Died Twice, exists).

The unresolved details leave room for surprises when the film lands.

What the cast brings to the table

The ensemble is stacked with Oscar winners and beloved character actors. The film has the potential to become a comfort-watch classic — if the chemistry clicks. Early behind-the-scenes images suggest a playful, warm tone consistent with the books.

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Frequently asked questions

Bottom line: Mirren, Brosnan, Kingsley and Imrie lead a cast that delivers charm over grit, but book devotees should brace for possible plot changes that may challenge their attachment to the novel.

Source:

• Rotten Tomatoes (film review aggregator)
• AV Club (pop culture outlet)
• Wikipedia (crowd-sourced film database)
• Netflix official site

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