Speaking on the BBC, author Richard Osman said he would not associate himself with the production, arguing that producer Steven Spielberg had directed E.T., l'extra-terrestre (1982) and, having done so, clearly knows how to make a film. He added that this was the first of a quartet of books featuring the characters from The Thursday Murder Club, and the second instalment, The Man Who Died Twice, was published in September 2021.
On his podcast 'The Rest is Entertainment', Richard Osman revealed that Jonathan Pryce will portray Elizabeth's husband, Stephen, and that Naomi Ackie will take the role of police officer Donna de Freitas. He added that David Tennant, Daniel Mays and Henry Lloyd-Hughes have also been cast in as-yet unspecified parts.
Osman has said he does not wish to be heavily involved in the film's production, preferring instead to concentrate on his forthcoming series of books.
This marks Pierce Brosnan's third time working with Chris Columbus; their previous collaborations were Madame Doubtfire (1993) and Percy Jackson : Le Voleur de foudre (2010).
Pierce Brosnan and Jonathan Pryce featured as leading actors in the James Bond film Tomorrow Never Dies (1997).
Pierce Brosnan and Helen Mirren portray husband and wife, the Harringons, in Mobland (2025), with Geoff Bell appearing as Richie Stevenson.
Brings back together Helen Mirren and Pierce Brosnan for the first time since Lightning Over Water (1980), which served as Brosnan's theatrical debut portraying an unnamed Irish hitman.
