Author Richard Osman defends Pierce Brosnan’s divisive casting in The Thursday Murder Club movie. Based on Osman’s 2020 novel and directed by Chris Columbus, Netflix’s upcoming crime comedy follows four elderly amateur sleuths – a retired spy, a union leader, a psychiatrist, and a nurse – who attempt to solve a murder.

The film features an ensemble cast that includes former James Bond actor Pierce Brosnan as Ron Ritchie alongside Ben Kingsley as Ibrahim Arif, Helen Mirren, and Celia Imrie in the four lead roles. David Tennant, Jonathan Pryce, Naomi Ackie, Daniel Mays, Paul Freeman, and Richard E. Grant also star.

In an interview with Empire, Richard Osman defended Pierce Brosnan’s casting in Netflix’s Thursday Murder Club movie. The author says that Brosnan is exactly who the character Ron would choose to play himself, as there’s a scene in the second book when Ron reveals that Brosnan is his favorite Bond actor. Read Osman’s full comments below:

Here’s the key thing about Pierce Brosnan playing Ron: Pierce Brosnan is who Ron would choose to play Ron. In the next book, I’ve got a scene with Ron and Ibrahim discussing who the best Bond is, and Ron is very much a Pierce Brosnan man. And Ibrahim is Timothy Dalton. For me, that’s the joy.

It’s a reason that Brosnan himself especially appreciates. In response to Osman’s comments, Brosnan joked:

That’s bloody great. I love it. Timothy Dalton was a fantastic Bond. Brosnan wasn’t half bad either.

What Pierce Brosnan’s Casting Means For The Thursday Murder Club Movie

Why It’s A Divisive Choice

Netflix’s Thursday Murder Club movie appears to stay mostly true to Richard Osman’s hugely popular mystery novel, which is set in an English retirement home where four residents investigate crimes. The movie maintains the book’s British setting despite it being a mostly American production. However, there are some key changes, particularly regarding the character of Ron Ritchie.

In The Thursday Murder Club books, Ron is a tattooed ex-trade unionist, and fans often imagined Ray Winstone as the perfect casting for the character. Instead, the movie cast Pierce Brosnan, offering a completely different take on the character. Brosnan’s casting brings a suave charisma and more polished edge to Ron, a departure from the rough-and-ready working-class image that readers know.

Brosnan infuses Ron with charm and a sly wit, suggesting a more reflective and even glamorous past. Osman views this change not as a betrayal, but as a reimagining and proof that adaptations can honor their source material while still exploring new dimensions.

Our Take On Pierce Brosnan’s Casting In The Thursday Murder Club Movie

Changes To Source Material Can Be Good

Adaptations thrive when they embrace the freedom to reimagine. By making changes or casting against type, filmmakers can uncover new layers of meaning and character. Staying faithful doesn’t always mean being literal. As with Brosnan’s casting in The Thursday Murder Club movie, bold choices can enhance the story, surprise the audience, and breathe new life into beloved material, reminding us why adaptations exist in the first place – to reinterpret, not just replicate.

Source: Empire