Thursday Murder Club cast

[jollygreenpea]

Richard Osman has released the cast so far, guessing the ones that have signed on the dotted line.

Elizabeth Helen Mirren

Ibrahim Ben Kinsley

Ron Pierce Brosman

Joyce unknow yet, but someone that has been mentioned to him a lot.

Donna is Black isn’t she?

Bogdan has to be gorgeous!

I am surprised by Helen Mirren and Ben Kingsley. On one of his talks after the audiobook ( forget which one) he said he intended the cast to be a bit younger than the characters to give the films times to be made. Helen and Ben don’t have all that much working life left in them as they are already around the age of 80 and the roles might have to be recast if they do all 4 books.

Sorry stormsurfer that was an accidental reply to you!

Lesley Manville is too young for Joyce isn’t she? Alison Steadman would be amazing! Or Sue Johnston? I’m way too invested in this!

Pierce Brosnan is a better age at 70 but I would have thought they would have gone for actors in their late 60s.

They’re living in sheltered housing. They can’t all be in their sixties surely.

I'd always imagined Joyce to look like Anne Reid; and I think there's similarities between Celia, her character in Last Tango in Halifax, and Joyce.

The other suggestions are great too especially Penelope Wilton and yy to Philip Glennister as Ron!

Oh not Helen - she’s too annoying.

I tried this book, read a few chapters and put it down. Repeated this with the same first few chapters and then gave up. I’ll kick myself when this comes out 😂

I like Pierce Brianna as Ron, I don’t know why but this choice has a right balance of charm, strength and unpredictability for me.
Love Helen Mirren as Elizabeth and really hope that they will cast Penelope Wilton as Joice.
I hoped to see Art Malik as Ibrahim but Ben Kingsley is good as well.

Only going by what he initially said he would cast them younger as films take time to make.

There was a really excellent thread where everyone listed who they though would be good playing the various characters including Chris, Donna, her mum etc

I have no idea how to link it though

Thursday Murder Club Fantasy Casting Thread. http://www.mumsnet.com/Talk/amiibeingunreasonable/4975119-thursday-murder-club-fantasy-casting-thread

I guess I figured it out

I like Pierce but not as Ron. Appreciate he's a good actor but he's smooth whereas Ron to me is taller, chunkier - can't think who would be good for him .

For Stephen whilst age doesn't match up I imagine someone look wise like Mark Bonnar (Dryden in Line of Duty).

Art Malik was my Ibrahim but Ben K I can live with .

Helen Mirren is just too bloody obvious. You can tell exactly how she'll play the role without even seeing it. I'll still watch but it doesn't excite me as a casting. Elizabeth if not my favourite character really though anyway.

I simply cannot see past Shaun Dooley for Chris. He'd be perfect even though he's not a massive name. I hope the film doesn't squeeze out Chris and Donna.

Vivian Oparah from Rye Lane for Donna perhaps or Zaraah Abrahams who is Chelsea from EastEnders.

Casting Bogdan is the hardest. I picture Goran Visnjic from back in the day when I read the books. Does he have an acting son?!

@FlyingPi i said Shaun Dooley for Chris to someone earlier. I think he’d be excellent.

Also Alison Steadman as Pauline I think is a better fit than for Joyce.

I think Hugo Speer for Chris. But now I have googled Shaun Dooley yes I can see that.

I also thought Art Malik for Ibrahim. I miss Art malik- he's rarely around now it seems.

Pierce Brosnan is an odd choice and I absolutely always saw Goran Visnjc as well for Bogdan.

Oooh yes Harriet Walter.

I assumed they would go for Helen M or Judi Dench for Elizabeth which just seems too boring and obvious.

But I guess at the end of the day the film needs to make money and the bigger names will help with that.

Oooh on the fantasy thread someone mentioned Kayvan Novak for Bogdan. Nice.

I agree that Lesley Manville seems too young to play Joyce plus she’s just in everything! I feel like come on, there must be other actors. Like others I can see Penelope Wilton making a good Joyce.
It’s funny that pp says Shaun Dooley isn’t a big name & I guess he isn’t but again he seems to be in everything I watch. I agree he would be good but I wonder if he’s got a bit too much of a cynical, world weary edge. Also in one of the later books when Chris has lost weight don’t they think he would be a good presenter? I got the feeling he was meant to be a bit handsome maybe? Not sure who I can see playing him though.

For Donna I think on the other thread a poster suggested Zawe Ashton which I can see but there’s also an actor from Dreaming Whilst Black, Dani Moseley that I feel has the right cynical edge for Donna but I’m not sure a lot of people have seen it.

Removed Nd me, how old is Donna? I'm wondering if she could be played by Nina Sosanya (broad repertoire) mainly because I'd be able to go "Oh look, it's Nina" again (was at school with her for a while)

*Remind me ...
(cannot edit on phone)

My money might be on Cush Jumbo for Donna.