It’s a murder mystery beloved by amateur sleuths, so it’s no surprise that the Thursday Murder Club is full of Easter<\/a> Eggs and references for it’s eagle-eyed audience to dissect.<\/p>\n The film, adapted from the best-selling Richard Osman<\/a> book, was released on Netflix<\/a> yesterday with people quickly praising it for quirky story-telling.<\/p>\n The cast includes stars Dame Helen Mirren<\/a>, Pierce Brosnan<\/a>, Sir Ben Kinsley and Celia Imrie as ‘geriatric sleuths’ who solve murders from their retirement home.\u00a0<\/p>\n The book sold 10 million copies worldwide, and released a further three novels after that.\u00a0<\/p>\n Since it’s popular release, the game show comedian has written an additional three books, including 2023’s The Last Devil To Die and which topped the New York Times<\/a> Bestseller list.<\/p>\n It was no surprise then, when Steven Spielberg<\/a> ‘s company Amblin Entertainment bagged the rights to the story in 2020, with production beginning in 2023.<\/p>\n Excitement was further fuelled when the cast, brimming with eminent acting names, was revealed.<\/p>\n Among them, David Tenant, as Ian Ventham, Helen Mirren , as Elizabeth Best, and Pierce Brosnan , as Ron Ritchie – with Spielberg himself acting as producer.<\/p>\n Ears pricked – movie and book lovers alike have delighted in combing the film for Easter eggs pertaining to subtle references in the book, mentions of production’s personal lives and even some of the actors former roles.<\/p>\n Excitement was further fuelled when the cast, brimming with eminent acting names, was revelaed. Among them, David Tenant, as Ian Ventham, Helen Mirren 9pictured) as Elizabeth Best, and Pierce Brosnan , as Ron Ritchie – with Spielberg himself acting as producer<\/p>\n<\/div>\n ROYAL REFERENCES\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Upon it’s release, watchers were quick to spot a subtle reference made to one of Helen Mirren’s previous roles.<\/p>\n With an illustrious career, packed with life-changing roles, Mirren has starred as a plethora of different characters; a noncomformist Catholic,\u00a0Marcella, in 1984’s Cal; a professional soldier\u00a0Colonel Katherine Powell in 2015’s Eye in the Sky; and notably, as the late Queen Elizabeth in 2006’s The Queen.<\/p>\n The latter earned her widespread critical and popular acclaim, and has even received a nod in Osman’s new film.\u00a0<\/p>\n During the film, Mirren, as Elizabeth, is seen dressing up as part of scheme undertaken by her and fellow member<\/a>\u00a0The Thursday Murder Club, Joyce, plated by\u00a0Celia Imrie, to infiltrate a police station.<\/p>\n As Mirren is seen leaving the house, dressed in a headscarf and walking stick, her husband, Stephen, played by\u00a0Jonathan Pryce laughs.<\/p>\n Helen Mirren’s role as the late Queen Elizabeth II has received a nod in the The Thursday Murder Club (pictured in The Queen)<\/p>\n<\/div>\n ‘What on Earth are you wearing?’ before adding ‘You look just like the Queen!’ to which Elizabeth asks: ‘Do I?’<\/p>\n As the scene continues, Stephen then refers to the late Queen’s funeral, calling it a ‘sad day’.<\/p>\n The comments prompts a shocked Elizabeth to ask whether Stephen, who’s character suffers with dementia, can recall the day in detail.\u00a0<\/p>\n ‘Of course I do,’ he says. ‘September 19th, 2022. We watched it on the telly. You were obsessed with the security arrangements.’\u00a0<\/p>\n The reference is particularly poignant given the two actor’s previous roles in The Queen, where Mirren gave her Oscar-winning performance of the late royal.<\/p>\n Meanwhile Pryce, who acted as Prince Phillip in The Crown<\/a>.<\/p>\n The setting of the retirement home, Coopers Chase, also has a royal link.<\/p>\n The\u00a0Englefield Estate is where the Princess of Wales’ sister Pippa Middleton married James Matthews in 2017<\/a>.<\/p>\n ROLE FOR RICHARD’S WIFE\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Movie buffs have also picked up on a role for Richard’s wife Ingrid Oliver.<\/p>\n The actress, 48, tied the knot with Osman in 2022 after they met on his BBC Two game show House Of Games.<\/a><\/p>\n Since the early days of their romance, people online have gushed over their ‘un-showbizzy’ nuptial and anecdotes about their authentic connection.<\/p>\n Now husband and wife of nearly three years, it seems Ingrid has made a special appearance in the film.<\/p>\n Ingrid Oliver, 48, who tied the knot with Osman in 2022 after they met on his BBC Two game show House Of Games two years’ earlier, earned celebrity status after wedding the presenter<\/p>\n<\/div>\n Movie buffs have also picked up on a cameo with writer of the book’s wife making an brief appearance in the film. ?Ingrid Oliver pictured as Joanna<\/p>\n<\/div>\n In a picture posted to Ingrid’s Instagram story, she is seen in a production shot alongside\u00a0Celia Imrie playing Joyce.<\/p>\n Dressed in a navy blue suit with a striped shirt, Ingrid looks smart but glamorous in the shot.\u00a0<\/p>\n Ingrid plays Joanna, Joyce Meadowcroft’s financier daughter.\u00a0<\/p>\n Captioning the picture, she wrote: ‘Me and mum’, alongside an emoji of a heart.\u00a0<\/p>\n The actress-cum-comedian was there by her husband’s side last week as he celebrated the premiere of the film in Leicester Square, Osman later calling the night a ‘dream’ on social media.<\/p>\n The couple are now the image of marital bliss and live together in the leafy borough of Chiswick in west London.\u00a0<\/p>\n Sharing a stunning snap of their wedding, Osman called it at the time: ‘The most magical, joyful day on Saturday with my beautiful wife. Surrounded by wonderful friends and family, a day full of love and laughter. We’re so, so happy’.<\/p>\n FAMOUS CAMEOS\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Elsewhere, another famous face to have bagged herself a cameo in the film<\/a> is Dancing On Ice Champion,\u00a0Vanessa Bauer.<\/p>\n The 29-year-old skate siren will appear among the glitzy cast playing herself.<\/p>\n She is seen gliding along the ice rink alongside Tom Ellis, who\u00a0plays ex-boxer turned TV personality Jason Ritchie in the film.<\/p>\n Elsewhere, another famous face to have bagged herself a cameo in the film is Dancing On Ice Champion, Vanessa Bauer (pictured)<\/p>\n<\/div>\n In the film, Ritchie scores a television job on Dancing on Ice line-up.<\/p>\n Seeing herself powering around the rink will likely be a full circle moment for Vanessa, who wrapped up 19 years on air earlier this year.<\/p>\n She had been on the show for nearly 10 years, having started in 2017 before going on to win once and reaching the final on six other occasions.\u00a0<\/p>\n But in 2023, she decided she wanted to pursue acting, revealing that she was ‘keen to do movies’ and had been taking daily lessons.\u00a0<\/p>\n Bruce Springsteen T-shirt<\/span><\/p>\n In one scene, Pierce Brosnan wears a Bruce Springsteen T-shirt while chatting to Ibrahim.<\/p>\n The James Bond actor is known as a big fan of the US rocker. Writing in 2019, he said: ‘I have been a devoted fan of Bruce Springsteen since Born to Run came out in 1975. I left drama school (The Drama Centre) in 1976 … and got my first job straight out the door at York Theatre Royal as acting ASM (assistant stage manager).\u00a0<\/p>\n In one scene, Pierce Brosnan wears a Bruce Springsteen T-shirt while chatting to Ibrahim<\/p>\n<\/div>\n ‘I spent six months there, and then was out of work for the next six months. I would get up in the morning, make some coffee, put on Born to Run, and start writing letters to various theaters up and down the country looking for work.<\/p>\n ‘His music has carried me though some low times and heady times. When Keely and I got married in Ireland, Bruce and Patti made a disc of their song ‘Should I fall behind wait for me’ that we played at our first dance that magical night under an Irish full moon and fireworks that lit up the night sky’.<\/p>\n Pierce’s son Dylan,\u00a0 28, also worked on the Bruce Springsteen documentary Western Stars.<\/p>\n \u00a0TCM NECKLACES<\/span><\/p>\n In the film, Elizabeth, Ibrahim and Ron all where ‘TCM necklaces’ – a reference of course, to the Thursday Murder Club.\u00a0<\/p>\n This is an addition to the film that isn’t referenced in the novel.\u00a0<\/p>\n RELEASE DATE\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Perhaps the most obvious nod is that the film was released on a Thursday – allowing its audience to create their own Thursday Murder Clubs.<\/span><\/p>\n OSMAN’S MUSIC TASTE\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Richard Osman, who has a pop culture podcast The Rest is Entertainment, is known for his musical taste and talent.<\/p>\n And it’s clear that influence has carried its way into the film’s soundtrack.<\/p>\n Music in the film includes two tracks by Cat Stevens, Richard has previously said that the songs by the British singer songwriter ‘make him cry more than anything’.<\/p>\n DEVIL DRAMA<\/span><\/p>\n Fans have been tickled by scenes from the movie, which stars David Tennant and Tom Ellis having a terse shouting match outside a church. Many couldn’t help but giggle, as the duo have both played devilish creatures on hit shows.<\/p>\n Tom – who in the film plays\u00a0Jason Ritchie – was the protagonist of eponymous Lucifer, as the charming embodiment of the fallen angel.<\/p>\n Elsewhere, David is the star of\u00a0 fantasy comedy television series Good Omens, plays Crowley – a demon who has lived on Earth since the dawn of creation.<\/p>\n The Thursday Murder Club viewers are already begging for a sequel after its highly-anticipated release today.<\/p>\n The Netflix<\/a> film, which is based on the best selling novel by TV’s Richard Osman<\/a>, stars Dame Helen Mirren<\/a>, Pierce Brosnan<\/a>, Sir Ben Kinsley and Celia Imrie as ‘geriatric sleuths’ who solve murders from their retirement home.<\/p>\n The book sold 10 million copies worldwide, and released a further three novels after that.<\/p>\n The film dropped on the streaming platform on Wednesday and it has already garnered plenty of attention on social media, with critics claiming they love it.\u00a0<\/p>\n Taking to X, now fans have shared their excitement over the movie and they are desperate for sequels to drop.<\/p>\n Many begged for more film adaptations in line with the novels, while also praising the ‘excellent cast’.<\/p>\n The Thursday Murder Club viewers are already begging for a sequel to the first after its highly-anticipated release last week<\/p>\n<\/div>\n The film stars Dame Helen Mirren, Pierce Brosnan, Sir Ben Kinsley and Celia Imrie as ‘geriatric sleuths’ who solve murders from their retirement home<\/p>\n<\/div>\n One person declared: ‘Just watched #ThursdayMurderClub on Netflix. Absolutely loved the film adaptation – excellent cast and followed the book well! Really hope the next books will continue to be made as well – loved it!’<\/p>\n Another commented: ‘Just finished the #thursdaymurderclub movie and it’s a masterpiece. Was as enjoyable as the books. Must be delighted. Roll on film number 2. I hope it’s always on (ode to Tuesdays podcast) #therestisentertainment.’<\/p>\n ‘Just a few minutes into #ThursdayMurderClub and I already know that I want to live in a place like that, if I live until I’m old,’ a third joked.<\/p>\n Another said: ‘Is it too early to ask when the next #thursdaymurderclub is coming out. I only had doubts about Pierce Brosnan but thought the whole thing was exceptional.’<\/p>\n A fifth wrote: ‘Just watched your fabulous #ThursdayMurderClub on I’m so happy for you. It was an amazing thing to see come to life after reading your books. Cannot wait for more instalments.’<\/p>\n![\"Excitement](\"https:\/\/i.dailymail.co.uk\/1s\/2025\/08\/29\/10\/101637623-15043923-Excitement_was_further_fuelled_when_the_cast_brimming_with_emine-m-1_1756459144138.jpg\")
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<\/div><\/div>\nThursday Murder Club soundtrack\u00a0<\/h3>\n
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<\/div><\/div><\/div>\nThe Thursday Murder Club viewers hail ‘exceptional’ film as ‘a masterpiece’ as it finally hits Netflix – and are already begging for sequels\u00a0<\/h3>\n
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