Richard Osman explains why he didn't write Thursday Murder Club movie

richard osman
Richard Osman on why he didn't write Netflix movie Mike Marsland - Getty Images

Richard Osman has shared the reason why he isn't involved in the script of The Thursday Murder Club movie, coming to Netflix this year.

The former Pointless host and author of the murder mystery book series serves as executive producer on the movie adaptation, which is directed by Home Alone's Chris Columbus. Columbus also co-wrote the film with Katy Brand.

Speaking on BBC Bookclub, Osman said not writing the script was "a deliberate choice".

richard osman
Mike Marsland - Getty Images

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"I wasn't involved in the script or anything like that," he said.

"It was a deliberate choice because you're either really involved or you're not, and I honestly would rather spend my time writing another book than getting involved in all of that so I absolutely left them to it."

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Osman, who's halfway through penning the fifth book in the Thursday Murder Club saga, has reflected on how putting a famous face to the name has impacted his writing.

The Netflix movie on the amateur sleuth quartet boasts a star-studded cast, with Helen Mirren, Celia Imrie, Pierce Brosnan and Ben Kingsley playing the four protagonists.

helen mirren, pierce brosnan, sir ben kingsley, celia imrie, richard osman, thursday murder club
Giles-Keyte - Netflix

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"It's fascinating starting writing the fifth book because I had just been on set and I had seen a scene with Pierce Brosnan and Sir Ben Kingsley as Ron and Ibrahim," Osman recalled.

"The very beginning of [writing] the scene, I had Ben Kingsley in my head and I thought, 'No, you know who Ibrahim is, you've spent the last five years with him, you know exactly who he is'."

He then added: "By the way, Sir Ben Kingsley is about as close as you can get, I think, but that's not the person who's in my heart. So I did, for like one minute, I had a slight concern, but then I remembered who those characters were."

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Osman also revealed the Netflix whodunnit will be released later this year after filming wrapped last summer.

"Filming's all finished and that was done in the summer of 2024, so the film will be out 2025," he confirmed.

The Thursday Murder Club does not yet have a release date.


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