You’ve probably seen the headlines swirling around social media or caught a snippet of a trailer while doomscrolling. There’s this massive buzz about a Pierce Brosnan Helen Mirren series, and honestly, the confusion is totally understandable. People are searching for a multi-episode show where these two icons solve crimes week after week.
Here is the reality: it’s not a TV series. It’s a massive Netflix original film titled The Thursday Murder Club.
Basically, it’s based on that wildly popular book by Richard Osman. If you haven't read it, you've definitely seen the bright colored covers in every airport bookstore for the last five years. It’s about a group of retirees in a posh UK retirement village who solve "cold cases" for fun on Thursdays. Then, naturally, a real murder happens right on their doorstep.
Why Everyone Thinks It’s a Series
The confusion stems from a few places. First, the source material is a book series. There are currently five books in the franchise, including The Man Who Died Twice and The Last Devil to Die. When fans hear "series," they often think of television.
Plus, there’s the MobLand factor.
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Mirren and Brosnan actually did star in a gritty crime series together on Paramount+ recently. In that one, they played a husband-and-wife crime duo. It was a complete 180 from the "cozy mystery" vibes of their latest project. If you’ve been seeing clips of them looking tough and dangerous, you’re probably looking at MobLand Season 2 footage.
But for The Thursday Murder Club, the energy is much more "tea and biscuits" mixed with "MI6 secrets."
Breaking Down the "Club" Members
The casting for this movie is kind of insane. It’s like a "who’s who" of British acting royalty.
- Helen Mirren plays Elizabeth Best. She’s the de facto leader and a former spy. Mirren actually told PEOPLE magazine she manifested this role after reading the book years ago.
- Pierce Brosnan is Ron Ritchie. This is the casting that had some book fans scratching their heads. In the novels, Ron is a rough-around-the-edges, left-wing former union activist. Brosnan is... well, he’s James Bond. But director Chris Columbus (the guy who did Home Alone and the first two Harry Potter movies) says Brosnan has "untapped" comedic chops that make him perfect for the "bull in a china shop" energy Ron requires.
- Ben Kingsley takes on Ibrahim, the retired psychiatrist who provides the logic and the therapy.
- Celia Imrie rounds out the quartet as Joyce, the retired nurse whose diary entries often narrate the books.
What Actually Happens in the Movie?
The plot follows the first book pretty closely. Our four heroes live at Coopers Chase, a peaceful retirement village in Kent. They spend their Thursdays in the "Jigsaw Room" looking at old police files that Elizabeth has "acquired" through her mysterious connections.
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Everything changes when a local property developer—played by David Tennant—ends up dead.
Suddenly, the "amateur" sleuths are in the middle of a live investigation. They have to outsmart the actual police, specifically DCI Chris Hudson (Daniel Mays) and PC Donna De Freitas (Naomi Ackie). It’s funny, it’s a bit sad in places, and it deals with aging in a way that doesn't feel patronizing.
The Production Pedigree
This isn't some low-budget streaming filler. Steven Spielberg’s Amblin Entertainment produced it. They spent months filming at Shepperton Studios and on location in the UK throughout late 2024.
The script was handled by Katy Brand and Suzanne Heathcote, which explains why the humor feels so specifically British. It’s got that dry, self-deprecating wit that made the books global bestsellers.
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Is a Sequel Coming?
Netflix hasn't officially greenlit The Man Who Died Twice yet, but let's be real. The movie shot straight to Number 1 globally when it dropped in late August 2025. With four more books ready for adaptation, it’s almost certain this will become a film franchise.
So, while it isn't a "series" in the traditional sense, you’ll likely see these characters on your screen for years to come.
Actionable Next Steps for Fans
If you want to get the most out of the Pierce Brosnan Helen Mirren collaboration, here is the best way to dive in:
- Watch "The Thursday Murder Club" on Netflix: It's the primary project everyone is talking about. It’s a 118-minute runtime, perfect for a weekend watch.
- Check out "MobLand" on Paramount+: If you want to see the "dark" version of their chemistry, this is the actual TV series they did together.
- Read the books in order: Start with the 2020 debut, The Thursday Murder Club. The movie changes a few minor plot points, and the books give much more backstory on Elizabeth’s spy days.
- Keep an eye on Netflix’s "Coming Soon" section: With the massive viewership numbers, a sequel announcement for The Man Who Died Twice is expected by the end of this year.