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  • Shelter’ Interview: Director Ric Roman Waugh

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    Opening in theaters on January 30th is the new action thriller ‘Shelter’, which was directed by Ric Roman Waugh (‘Shot Caller’ and ‘Greenland 2: Migration’) and stars Jason Statham (‘The Beekeeper’), Bodhi Rae Breathnach (‘Hamnet‘), Naomi Ackie (‘Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker’), and Bill Nighy (‘The Constant Gardener’).

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    Moviefone recently had the pleasure of speaking with director Ric Roman Waugh about his work on ‘Shelter’, his first reaction to the screenplay, the emotional core of the movie, crafting the action sequences, working with Jason Statham and Bill Nighy, and finding the right tone for the movie, as well as looking back at his prison masterpiece ‘Shot Caller’ and with ‘Greenland 2: Migration’ also currently in theaters, what it’s like as a filmmaker to have two big movies at the box office at the same time.

    Ric Roman Waugh attends the UK Premiere of ‘Shelter’ at Cineworld Leicester Square on January 20, 2026 in London, England. Photo: StillMoving.Net for Black Bear.
    Ric Roman Waugh attends the UK Premiere of ‘Shelter’ at Cineworld Leicester Square on January 20, 2026 in London, England. Photo: StillMoving.Net for Black Bear.

    You can read the full interview below or click on the video player above to watch our interview.

    Related Article: Movie Review: ‘Shelter’

    Ric Roman Waugh attends the UK Premiere of ‘Shelter’ at Cineworld Leicester Square on January 20, 2026 in London, England. Photo: StillMoving.Net for Black Bear.
    Ric Roman Waugh attends the UK Premiere of ‘Shelter’ at Cineworld Leicester Square on January 20, 2026 in London, England. Photo: StillMoving.Net for Black Bear.

    Moviefone: To begin with, can you talk about your first reaction to the screenplay, what you thought you could bring to it and why you wanted to make this movie?

    Ric Roman Waugh: I was fortunate that Jason had reached out. We’d been trying to work together, and he was talking about this script, which he was super passionate about. When I read it, I got it. Ward Parry‘s script, it just punches you in the gut with great emotion. I thought this is exactly the type of film that I like to do, a movie that can be a big action ride, but has a real emotional thrust in it. So now I’m going to give you your cake and eat it too. I’m going to give you Jason Statham, the action star at his best, but I’m going to remind you what an amazing actor he is as well. My type of heroes, the antihero, the man, or the woman that’s vulnerable, sensitive, dealing with demons, trauma, in crisis, all these things that we love about movies that go back to ‘Shane’ in the ’50s, to ‘Man on Fire’ and ‘The Professional’, because they’re relatable to us. We all deal with different kinds of issues like that. I’ve never been a fan of the 10-foot tall bulletproof, impervious to pain type of hero. I like the mortal human beings and that’s what I love about this movie, is that Jason’s character is not just a man of action, but he’s also a human being and with real sensibilities.

    Jason Statham in 'Shelter'. Photo: Black Bear Pictures.
    Jason Statham in ‘Shelter’. Photo: Black Bear Pictures.

    MF: Can you talk about the relationship between Mason and Jesse, and why he decides to protect her?

    RRW: I think the movie speaks on two levels, and I’ll unpack the first one with you, which is that we all tend to put ourselves in some form of exile, and then we’re quickly reminded how much we need each other. I love that this movie, this story spoke to that, about a man mysterious to us living in this abandoned lighthouse, and he saves this young girl from the sea, who’s been trying to give him the time of day, but he’s been completely shut off. He saves her only to realize that she’s probably there to save him from this form of self-exile that he’s been living in trauma and realizing that she is also in a form of exile to herself of trauma and loss. Then they find family in one another. Again, going back to the movies of ‘Shane’, or ‘Man on Fire’ and ‘The Professional’, it becomes about a hero that must shelter this young girl, but also is cognizant of the dark cloud that follows him, and making sure that doesn’t get cast upon her as well. So, they get that great moral dilemma. Am I going to be selfish and keep this young girl in my life because I finally found family and have a connection again? Or am I going to do the right thing and get her to safety, but not have her in my life? I love that dilemma that runs throughout it. At the same time, we give you this big action ride.

    (L to R) Jason Statham and Bodhi Rae Breathnach attend the UK Premiere of ‘Shelter’ at Cineworld Leicester Square on January 20, 2026 in London, England. Photo: StillMoving.Net for Black Bear.
    (L to R) Jason Statham and Bodhi Rae Breathnach attend the UK Premiere of ‘Shelter’ at Cineworld Leicester Square on January 20, 2026 in London, England. Photo: StillMoving.Net for Black Bear.

    MF: Can you talk about Jason and Bodhi’s onscreen chemistry, and did they connect right away on set?

    RRW: I got this thing about chemistry. It’s a big thing for me. I think you can put all the best Academy Award winners in front of the camera, but it doesn’t mean they’re going to have chemistry, and we wonder why those movies don’t work. We looked at 500 young girls. There was a wide net. I remember seeing a tape of this little freckled girl, and there was just something about her eyes. There was a deep soul within her, and this vibrancy. So, we brought Bodhi in and did a chemistry test with her and Jason, and it was just electric. We did one of the more emotional scenes in the movie. If you’ve ever been around Jason, Jason Statham is a force of nature. There’s an energy level to him that can be daunting to some people, and intimidating. But Bodhi and him, it was just like electric, watching the two of them together. So, I knew that my job was just to get the hell out of the way, put them in front of the camera and let them do their thing. So, they’re not faking it and they’re not forcing it. It was real, and in fact, I’d remind them, “Don’t be so together as a family unit yet. Still play into the estrangement of things.”

    Jason Statham attends the UK Premiere of ‘Shelter’ at Cineworld Leicester Square on January 20, 2026 in London, England. Photo: StillMoving.Net for Black Bear.
    Jason Statham attends the UK Premiere of ‘Shelter’ at Cineworld Leicester Square on January 20, 2026 in London, England. Photo: StillMoving.Net for Black Bear.

    MF: Can you talk about working with Jason and what he brings to a movie like this?

    RRW: Well, first, Jason is 100% committed to what he’s doing. He is all in, and I met my match with that. I’ve been known to be a juggernaut as well with being very passionate about the things that I’m making, and just waking up every morning wanting to tear into it. That’s Jason. What I also realized is he’s super authentic in his real life, and there is a code that he lives by, the way he respects those around him and demands respect in return. I think they’re all the essential elements that you see in his characters, and that’s why he is so authentic to a lot of people, because he’s living and breathing it in real life. I also really admire the family man he is, and how he is with his kids and with his wife, Rosie (Huntington-Whiteley), and his parents coming to set. So, all those kinds of familial sensibilities were fun to explore in this film, to show you the action star, but humanize him and bring a different aspect to him than you’ve seen before.

    Jason Statham attends the UK Premiere of ‘Shelter’ at Cineworld Leicester Square on January 20, 2026 in London, England. Photo: StillMoving.Net for Black Bear.
    Jason Statham attends the UK Premiere of ‘Shelter’ at Cineworld Leicester Square on January 20, 2026 in London, England. Photo: StillMoving.Net for Black Bear.

    MF: How involved is Jason in choreographing the action and fight sequences?

    RRW: He’s an amazing collaborator. Jason is involved in every aspect of it, and I love that. I love that I’m not going to have to remind him what we’re shooting. I’m not going to have to remind him of what we’re doing. He’s very much about the attention to detail. So, he’s not only involved in the action, he’s involved in every aspect of it, but he also understands that his fighting style is a certain way. He is a real martial artist and a real fighter, so that there’s a way that he wants the choreography to go, because it goes into his more organic way of doing things. I love that, but there was never any moment that I felt like I didn’t have a pure partner in raising the bar together. He’s a prep freak like me as well, which is good because when you rehearse and you get things in a good rhythm, when you get there on the set, you just let it fly, and then you’re raising the bar versus trying to find it. I love that.

    (L to R) Tom Malone, Theo Shakes, Savannah Sachdev, Ali Woods, Paigey Cakey, Jay Urban, Jason Statham, Eddie Hall, Ashley Cain and Big John attend the UK Premiere of ‘Shelter’ at Cineworld Leicester Square on January 20, 2026 in London, England. Photo: StillMoving.Net for Black Bear.
    (L to R) Tom Malone, Theo Shakes, Savannah Sachdev, Ali Woods, Paigey Cakey, Jay Urban, Jason Statham, Eddie Hall, Ashley Cain and Big John attend the UK Premiere of ‘Shelter’ at Cineworld Leicester Square on January 20, 2026 in London, England. Photo: StillMoving.Net for Black Bear.

    MF: There is an amazing car chase in the movie. What is the secret to shooting a great car chase sequence?

    RRW: To not treat it as a car chase. For me, coming from the stunt world in my early days, a lot of people asked me what it was like to do stunts. I realized over time what they were really wanting to know was, “What did it feel like? What did it feel like to be set on fire? What did it feel like to be driving 200 miles an hour in ‘Days of Thunder’ and crash on purpose,” and the exhilaration and the fear and all those things. So, when I’m shooting action, I’m trying to immerse you in the action the way I was. I’m trying to put you, in this case in the seat, where the cameras are in the car and it’s from the inside out. So, you’re in the character’s point of view and his point of view becomes your point of view. So, when you’re a bucking bronco going down a hill and the car’s falling apart and bullets are going through it, you feel immersed in that. You’re not watching a car chase, you’re in the car being hunted, and you get a different perspective of it. I always called it trying to make your own IMAX ride out of the action, to always be from the inside out.

    (L to R) Naomi Ackie in 'Shelter'. Photo: Black Bear Pictures.
    (L to R) Naomi Ackie in ‘Shelter’. Photo: Black Bear Pictures.

    MF: Can you talk about the tone of the film and the challenges of balancing the action with the emotional core?

    RRW: Tone is everything for me, as a screenwriter, as a filmmaker, and it’s being as true to the tone of the material as you possibly can. Not trying to get too cute with it, and not trying to make it over-serious. It really found its place on Jason’s point of view of really choosing to be elegant, where you’re doing everything in a very grounded and authentic way. You’re not forcing more violence. You’re paying attention to what you would do in front of a child to protect her and protect her innocence. So, when you start playing into the fundamental laws of the familial bond between a pseudo father who’s trying to protect a young child, you let that dictate your tone. You let that become your compass and your guide of where you go. I feel like that’s always the true north star for me in anything I’m doing. ‘Shot Caller’ is a movie that I’ve done that is far more violent, but because the tone of it dictates it. So, you do that in an unflinching way because prison is unflinching.

    (L to R) Bill Nighy and Jason Statham in 'Shelter'. Photo: Black Bear Pictures.
    (L to R) Bill Nighy and Jason Statham in ‘Shelter’. Photo: Black Bear Pictures.

    MF: In my opinion, Bill Nighy is one of the greatest living actors and every breath he takes on screen feels authentic. What is it like directing an actor of his caliber?

    RRW: It was funny, the first day Bill worked, it was the day that he and Jason meet at the end of the movie. I remember my monitors were right around on the other side of the room because it was a very small room, so we couldn’t be inside of it. After the first take, Jason walked over and he goes, “I could hear that guy say anything. It doesn’t even matter what he says.” That’s it. Bill Nighy is just an absolute legend. But I really have been fortunate to work over the years with some of our elder statesmen and stateswomen, like Harriet Walter on this movie, who’s just phenomenal. But from Sam Shepherd to Morgan Freeman to Nick Nolte and my new pal, Bill Nighy, they’re in it. You would think at their time of their life and their body of work, they can phone it in, take the money and run. No, I mean, they just really own the space. That’s what we loved about Bill. Bill came in and just owned it, and we’re talking about turning him into an action star now. He’s an incredible human being, but that work ethic is just next to nothing. It’s amazing.

    Nikolaj Coster-Waldau in 'Shot Caller'. Photo: Saban Films.
    Nikolaj Coster-Waldau in ‘Shot Caller’. Photo: Saban Films.

    MF: You mentioned ‘Shot Caller’, and I think that is one of the greatest prison movies ever made. I feel like the movie has had a renaissance recently thanks to streaming. How do you feel about that movie now? Do you feel like the film is being rediscovered by audiences?

    RRW: Yeah, it’s really rewarding because we made that with a lot of passion and put a lot into it. I went undercover for two years as a parole agent in California to learn the system. I did the first movie ‘Felon’, and then the follow-up ‘Shot Caller’. It’s fun when you make a film that is constantly being discovered and rediscovered and is brought up. It’s really rewarding to have that because I have mine. I have my films that I’ve discovered. I’m like, how the heck did I miss this when it came out? It just blows me away and then becomes a favorite of mine. If ‘Shot Caller’s got a little of that going for its fan base, that’s awesome, because everybody that was involved in it were just amazing people. Nikolaj Coster-Waldau, so proud of what he did, and Jon Bernthal, Jeffrey Donovan, and Holt McCallany. We can just go on and on. We had just an amazing cast of people. What’s fun about ‘Shot Caller’, to give you an example, the prison riot scene when there’s 250 guys that are fighting out there, 200 of them are real (prisoners). We put MMA fighters and certain people around closer to camera, but we had all factions out there, and they would look like they’re going to literally kill each other. Then I would yell “Cut”, and they would all pick each other up and laugh, because they knew there wasn’t a real life or death situation on the prison yard, but they loved and appreciated that we wanted to make it as authentic as it possibly could be. To this day, ‘Shot Caller’ is one of the teaching tools for the California prison system, where they show that to a lot of the new correctional officers, so they can see what is going on in our prison systems.

    (L to R) Gerard Butler as John Garrity, Morena Baccarin as Allison Garrity, and Roman Griffin Davis as Nathan Garrity in 'Greenland 2: Migration'. Photo Credit: Courtesy of Lionsgate.
    (L to R) Gerard Butler as John Garrity, Morena Baccarin as Allison Garrity, and Roman Griffin Davis as Nathan Garrity in ‘Greenland 2: Migration’. Photo Credit: Courtesy of Lionsgate.

    MF: Finally, you also have ‘Greenland 2: Migration’ in theaters right now. As a filmmaker, what is it like having two big films at the box office at the same time?

    RRW: It’s been surreal because they both mean a lot to me in different ways. We made the first movie ‘Greenland’ pre-pandemic, but it came out in the pandemic. We couldn’t even put it in movie theaters in the US when we were already booked in IMAX and Dolby, because there were no theaters open, but then we were watching it go number one around the world. Then Adam Fogelson, who’s our chairman of STX and now at Lionsgate, he just made a bold move to put the biggest streaming deal ever at that point together with HBO. It luckily became a darling where a lot of people really discovered it in a time that we were all sheltered and stuck inside. We never thought we were going to make a second movie. Then when it got the response that we had hoped for, we decided to mirror the timeline, mirror post-pandemic, and mirror a lot of the things that we had dealt with as well. So, I love that we get to finally see what I call the final chapter of the Garritys, and you can watch these movies back-to-back and see a family that faces real crisis, and finds love and atonement again, and then deals with trauma and tragedy. Those are all these things that make it relatable to us. Then this movie with Jason, ‘Shelter’ is really a dear one. I consider it a badge of honor and a real notch on my belt of the movies that I’ve made. I’m very proud of it and very proud of the cast. It’s just been a fantastic ride all the way through. I hope a lot of people get their butts to the theaters this Friday because it’s a big, fun ride, and it will grab you in an emotional way. It’s a special one. I’m happy about it and hope a lot of people will go and see it.

    'Shelter' opens in theaters on January 30th.
    ‘Shelter’ opens in theaters on January 30th.

    What is the plot of ‘Shelter’?

    A former assassin (Jason Statham) is forced to kill his former organization to protect a girl (Bodhi Rae Breathnach) who had been supplying him.

    Who is in the cast of ‘Shelter’?

    • Jason Statham as Mason
    • Bodhi Rae Breathnach as Jesse
    • Bill Nighy
    • Naomi Ackie
    • Daniel Mays
    (L to R) Ric Roman Waugh, Bodhi Rae Breathnach and Jason Statham attend the UK Premiere of ‘Shelter’ at Cineworld Leicester Square on January 20, 2026 in London, England. Photo: StillMoving.Net for Black Bear.
    (L to R) Ric Roman Waugh, Bodhi Rae Breathnach and Jason Statham attend the UK Premiere of ‘Shelter’ at Cineworld Leicester Square on January 20, 2026 in London, England. Photo: StillMoving.Net for Black Bear.

    List of Ric Roman Waugh Movies:

    Buy Tickets: ‘Shelter’ Movie Showtimes

    Buy Ric Roman Waugh Movies on Amazon

  • Movie Review: ‘Shelter’

    Jason Statham in 'Shelter'. Photo: Black Bear Pictures.
    Jason Statham in ‘Shelter’. Photo: Black Bear Pictures.

    Opening in theaters on January 30 is ‘Shelter,’ directed by Ric Roman Waugh and starring Jason Statham, Bodhi Rae Breathnach, Naomi Ackie, Daniel Mays, Bryan Vigier, and Bill Nighy.

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    Related Article: Jason Statham and Director Guy Ritchie to Reunite for ‘Viva La Madness’

    Initial Thoughts

    Jason Statham attends the UK Premiere of ‘Shelter’ at Cineworld Leicester Square on January 20, 2026 in London, England. Photo: StillMoving.Net for Black Bear.
    Jason Statham attends the UK Premiere of ‘Shelter’ at Cineworld Leicester Square on January 20, 2026 in London, England. Photo: StillMoving.Net for Black Bear.

    Jason Statham is the AC/DC of action movies: just as the legendary Australian band has made the same album 17 times, Statham makes more or less the same movie every year and portrays pretty much the same character each time out. Some, like ‘The Beekeeper,’ operate at a slightly higher level than the others – but we can’t quite say that about ‘Shelter.’

    Statham’s latest action thriller, directed by Ric Roman Waugh, doesn’t break the mold in any way but it also doesn’t quite deliver like some of the star’s better vehicles, spinning its tale in humdrum fashion with little surprises and almost none of the self-aware humor that has marked Statham’s best work.

    Story and Direction

    Ric Roman Waugh attends the UK Premiere of ‘Shelter’ at Cineworld Leicester Square on January 20, 2026 in London, England. Photo: StillMoving.Net for Black Bear.
    Ric Roman Waugh attends the UK Premiere of ‘Shelter’ at Cineworld Leicester Square on January 20, 2026 in London, England. Photo: StillMoving.Net for Black Bear.

    Opening in the Outer Hebrides off the coast of Scotland, ‘Shelter’ finds Statham playing – surprise, surprise – Michael Mason, a man looking to escape his past. An ex-Royal Marine, he hides out alone on a small island next to a defunct lighthouse, drinking his days away and accompanied only by his dog. A former colleague of his delivers supplies every week via trawler, delivered to Mason’s doorstep by Jessie (Bodhi Rae Breathnach), the man’s plucky niece who attempts to befriend Mason but is rudely rebuffed.

    All that changes when a storm capsizes the trawler and Mason springs into action to rescue Jessie. Forced to take care of her, he ventures across the channel on his own for supplies – and once at the local village, those omnipresent surveillance cameras pick up his face and send his image to MI6 (British intelligence) – only under a different name. But there are forces within the government itself – not always working together — that have a keen interest in locating Mason, sending strike teams after him and forcing him to not just take them all out like a toddler brushing his toy soldiers off the table, but to protect Jessie as well and try to get her out of the U.K.

    Ric Roman Waugh attends the UK Premiere of ‘Shelter’ at Cineworld Leicester Square on January 20, 2026 in London, England. Photo: StillMoving.Net for Black Bear.
    Ric Roman Waugh attends the UK Premiere of ‘Shelter’ at Cineworld Leicester Square on January 20, 2026 in London, England. Photo: StillMoving.Net for Black Bear.

    All the usual Statham pieces are in place: he’s a gruff man of few words and deadly moves who’s tormented by his past, he has to protect and/or rescue an innocent person, and his enemies have endless resources and supplies of redshirts to hurl at him. Yet what ‘Shelter’ is missing is a few good laughs here and there as well as a certain amount of energy. Director Ric Roman Waugh – who generated suspense and heart with ‘Greenland 2: Migration’ earlier this month – can’t seem to get this film out of first gear. The snarky Statham humor is almost completely absent, and the film’s drab visual esthetic – this is a movie submerged almost entirely in muted grays, browns, and greens – makes it unpleasant and enervating to look at.

    There are a few good fights (even if Waugh has some trouble tracking them) and Statham and Breathnach share a few moments of warmth and humanity. But the script offers little in the way of reveals or sudden twists (the film curiously feels like there should be a few more), we see the bad guys coming from a mile away (literally in some scenes) and while we end up rooting for our man as usual, it’s all half-hearted at best.

    Cast and Performances

    (L to R) Bill Nighy and Jason Statham in 'Shelter'. Photo: Black Bear Pictures.
    (L to R) Bill Nighy and Jason Statham in ‘Shelter’. Photo: Black Bear Pictures.

    There’s little to say about Jason Statham’s performance here that we haven’t said before. Even his most middling films benefit from his sturdy presence, and he handles the action scenes with his usual aplomb. There’s even a character arc of sorts this time out. But he’s better when he gently pokes fun at himself or the material, and ‘Shelter’ is too self-serious to let him really light up the screen.

    As for the rest of the cast, Bodhi Rae Breathnach shows some grit and confidence as Jessie, but the rest of the cast is merely functional. Naomi Ackie is wasted in a mostly expository role, while Bill Nighy and Arthur Booth go through their pre-ordained motions the best they can. Sadly, French stunt performer Bryan Vigier gets a raw deal as the appropriately named Workman, a killing machine clandestinely sent after Mason who turns out to be the blandest assassin we’ve seen onscreen in a while.

    Final Thoughts

    (L to R) Naomi Ackie in 'Shelter'. Photo: Black Bear Pictures.
    (L to R) Naomi Ackie in ‘Shelter’. Photo: Black Bear Pictures.

    No one expects great art out of Jason Statham; he’s a brand unto himself whose fans know what they’re getting and, for the most part, get it in satisfying fashion. He’s always watchable and is one of our few remaining action heroes who looks like he knows what he’s doing.

    But ‘Shelter’ never fully comes alive narratively or visually – even David Buckley’s synth-heavy score sounds lethargic – and is not as entertaining as the star’s best efforts. But hey, even AC/DC made a few mediocre albums, right?

    ‘Shelter’ receives a score of 55 out of 100.

    Jason Statham attends the UK Premiere of ‘Shelter’ at Cineworld Leicester Square on January 20, 2026 in London, England. Photo: StillMoving.Net for Black Bear.
    Jason Statham attends the UK Premiere of ‘Shelter’ at Cineworld Leicester Square on January 20, 2026 in London, England. Photo: StillMoving.Net for Black Bear.

    What is the plot of ‘Shelter’?

    On a remote coastal island, a reclusive man (Jason Statham) rescues a young girl (Bodhi Rae Breathnach) from a deadly storm, drawing them both into danger. Forced out of isolation, he must confront his turbulent past while protecting her, sending them on a tense journey of survival and redemption.

    Who is in the cast of ‘Shelter’?

    • Jason Statham as Michael Mason
    • Bodhi Rae Breathnach as Jessie
    • Bill Nighy as Steven Manafort
    • Naomi Ackie as Roberta Frost
    • Daniel Mays as Arthur Booth
    • Bryan Vigier as James Workman
    'Shelter' opens in theaters on January 30th.
    ‘Shelter’ opens in theaters on January 30th.

    List of Jason Statham Movies

    Buy Tickets: ‘Shelter’ Movie Showtimes

    Buy Jason Statham Movies on Amazon

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  • ‘The Thursday Murder Club’ Cast Interviews

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    Opening in select theaters on August 22nd before premiering on Netflix beginning August 28th is ‘The Thursday Murder Club‘, which is based on the 2020 novel of the same name by Richard Osman.

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    Directed by Chris Columbus (‘Home Alone’ and ‘Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone’), the film stars an all-star cast that includes Oscar winner Helen Mirren (‘The Queen’), Pierce Brosnan (‘Die Another Day’), Oscar winner Sir Ben Kingsley (‘Gandhi’), Celia Imrie (‘The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel’), David Tennant (‘Doctor Who’), Jonathan Pryce (‘The Two Popes’), Naomi Ackie (‘Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker’), Tom Ellis (‘Lucifer’), and Richard E. Grant (‘Saltburn).

    (L to R) Helen Mirren and Pierce Brosnan star in 'The Thursday Murder Club'.
    (L to R) Helen Mirren and Pierce Brosnan star in ‘The Thursday Murder Club’.

    Moviefone recently had the pleasure of speaking with Helen Mirren and Pierce Brosnan about their work on ‘The Thursday Murder Club’, their first reactions to the script, their characters, collaborating with director Chris Columbus on set, and working with the all-star cast.

    You can read the full interview below or click on the video player above to watch our interviews with Mirren, Brosnan, Sir Ben Kingsley, Celia Imrie, and director Chris Columbus.

    Related Article: Pierce Brosnan Talks ‘The Last Rifleman’

    Helen Mirren in 'The Thursday Murder Club'. Photo Credit: Giles Keyte / Netflix. © 2025 Netflix, Inc.
    Helen Mirren in ‘The Thursday Murder Club’. Photo Credit: Giles Keyte / Netflix. © 2025 Netflix, Inc.

    Moviefone: To begin with, Helen, had you read the novel before you read the script, and what excited you about playing Elizabeth Best on screen?

    Helen Mirren: Well, I had read the book. I’ read the book at least a year before, and thought, “Oh, my goodness, this would make a great movie.” I did feel that when I read the book. Immediately on the heels of that, I thought, “I’m the right person to play Elizabeth. I’m right. If there is a role in this for me, I think that’s my role.” But you have no idea what’s going to happen, and then I heard that Steven Spielberg had bought the rights to the script. Which on the one hand, was great news because we knew then the movie was going to be in wonderful hands. But at the same time, I thought, “Oh, my God, well, that means I’ll never get the role, because some much bigger movie star, than me will play it.” So, I was very pleased when they did approach me and I said yes, immediately, without any question. Then I don’t know if I read the script before that. I think maybe I hadn’t even read the script. I can’t remember. But possibly not. So, it didn’t come from the script for me. It came from the book.

    (L to R) Celia Imrie, Ben Kingsley, Helen Mirren and Pierce Brosnan in 'The Thursday Murder Club', which will launch on 28th August 2025 exclusively on Netflix. Photo: Netflix.
    (L to R) Celia Imrie, Ben Kingsley, Helen Mirren and Pierce Brosnan in ‘The Thursday Murder Club’, which will launch on 28th August 2025 exclusively on Netflix. Photo: Netflix.

    MF: Pierce, what was your first reaction to the screenplay and why did you want to be a part of this project?

    Pierce Brosnan: I wanted to be part of it because this is a beloved book, Ron Ritchie is a great character. It’s always good to be a surprise. Chris Columbus, you know, I played in his movies, ‘Mrs. Doubtfire’ and ‘Percy Jackson & the Olympians: The Lightning Thief’. The company of Sir Ben, Dame Helen, Celia, and it was a glorious summer, just the most magnificent time with this company of actors. You’re dealing with a great nuanced story of characters who are aging, who are dealing with the challenges of life, and who are alive and passionate about what they do. They solve cold cases and then ultimately a murder, right on their doorstep.

    (L to R) Sir Ben Kingsley as Ibrahim Arif, Pierce Brosnan as Ron Ritchie, author Richard Osman, Helen Mirren as Elizabeth Best, Celia Imrie as Joyce Meadowcroft and director Chris Columbus on the set of 'The Thursday Murder Club'. Photo: Courtesy of Netflix © 2024. © 2025 Netflix, Inc.
    (L to R) Sir Ben Kingsley as Ibrahim Arif, Pierce Brosnan as Ron Ritchie, author Richard Osman, Helen Mirren as Elizabeth Best, Celia Imrie as Joyce Meadowcroft and director Chris Columbus on the set of ‘The Thursday Murder Club’. Photo: Courtesy of Netflix © 2024. © 2025 Netflix, Inc.

    MF: Helen, what was your experience like working with director Chris Columbus for the first time?

    HM: We all fell in love with Chris Columbus. But I would add, absolute encouragement and joyfulness, but also incredible expertise. We knew we were in the hands of an experienced filmmaker, who understood what was needed when he hadn’t got it yet, he went on until he did have it, but in the most encouraging ways. You never felt like you were failing but that you could trust him because he knew.

    Chris Columbus attends the NYC Special Screening of 'The Thursday Murder Club' on August 14, 2025 in New York City. Photo by Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images for Netflix.
    Chris Columbus attends the NYC Special Screening of ‘The Thursday Murder Club’ on August 14, 2025 in New York City. Photo by Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images for Netflix.

    MF: Pierce, as you mentioned, you’ve worked with Chris Columbus before, so what was it like to reunite with him on this film and has his process as a filmmaker changed since the last time you worked together?

    PB: I think we just picked up where we left off, on ‘Mrs. Doubtfire’ and ‘Percy Jackson’. He’s a pal, and he’s such a great filmmaker. He knows where to put the camera, he knows how to tell the story, so when you walk in front of the camera, you feel like you’re on stage and your preparation, your homework, your study, and the words that you have to say, have a meaning and have a power. Then there’s also the great surprise element of your fellow actors, and being beside Ben and him playing Ibrahim Arif, we became a duo, and I didn’t really see that or think that when I was studying the script of preparing the work. It evolved just because of the positioning of the two of us by Chris, where you put your characters or how you find the blocking in a scene is very important. It can speak volumes, the way you move or the way you stand.

    (L to R) Helen Mirren, Pierce Brosnan, Sir Ben Kingsley, Celia Imrie, and Naomi Ackie in 'The Thursday Murder Club'. Photo Credit: Giles Keyte / Netflix. © 2025 Netflix, Inc.
    (L to R) Helen Mirren, Pierce Brosnan, Sir Ben Kingsley, Celia Imrie, and Naomi Ackie in ‘The Thursday Murder Club’. Photo Credit: Giles Keyte / Netflix. © 2025 Netflix, Inc.

    MF: Finally, Helen, what was it like for you to work with this incredible cast of actors, and is it fun making a movie with your friends?

    HM: Oh, I mean, it could be a disaster making a movie with your friends. You know, it could be, because maybe you’ll get too cozy together and you’re not sufficiently objective about what you’re doing. There is a danger there. But I have to say with this group, who are absolutely friends, Ben, I knew when I was in my early 20s. Celia, I worked with it seems to me a few years ago, but she tells me it was 20 years ago. Pierce, I knew. But you never really know how the chemistry will come together at work. I think Ben puts it very well, he says, “We’re like a quartet and we each bring our individual instruments, that we each play very well and together those instruments make music.” So, we’ve all been trying to decide which instrument we play, we haven’t quite settled on that yet. But we do make good music.

    'The Thursday Murder Club' will launch on 28th August 2025 exclusively on Netflix. Photo: Netflix.
    ‘The Thursday Murder Club’ will launch on 28th August 2025 exclusively on Netflix. Photo: Netflix.

    What is the plot of ‘The Thursday Murder Club’?

    Elderly amateur sleuths attempt to solve a murder. One was a spy (Helen Mirren), one was a nurse (Celia Imrie), one was a trade union official (Pierce Brosnan) and one was a psychiatrist (Sir Ben Kingsley).

    Who is in the cast of ‘The Thursday Murder Club’?

    • Helen Mirren as Elizabeth Best
    • Pierce Brosnan as Ron Ritchie
    • Ben Kingsley as Ibrahim Arif
    • Celia Imrie as Joyce Meadowcroft
    • David Tennant as Ian Ventham
    • Jonathan Pryce as Stephen Best
    • Naomi Ackie as PC Donna De Freitas
    • Daniel Mays as DCI Chris Hudson
    • Henry Lloyd-Hughes as Bogdan
    • Richard E. Grant as Bobby Tanner
    • Tom Ellis as Jason Ritchie
    • Geoff Bell as Tony Curran
    • Paul Freeman as John Grey
    • Sarah Niles as Patrice De Freitas
    • Ingrid Oliver as Joanna Meadowcroft
    (L to R) Helen Mirren, Pierce Brosnan, Sir Ben Kingsley, and Celia Imrie in 'The Thursday Murder Club'. Photo: Giles Keyte/Netflix. © 2025 Netflix, Inc.
    (L to R) Helen Mirren, Pierce Brosnan, Sir Ben Kingsley, and Celia Imrie in ‘The Thursday Murder Club’. Photo: Giles Keyte/Netflix. © 2025 Netflix, Inc.

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  • Movie Review: ‘The Thursday Murder Club’

    (L to R) Celia Imrie, Ben Kingsley, Helen Mirren and Pierce Brosnan in 'The Thursday Murder Club', which will launch on 28th August 2025 exclusively on Netflix. Photo: Netflix.
    (L to R) Celia Imrie, Ben Kingsley, Helen Mirren and Pierce Brosnan in ‘The Thursday Murder Club’, which will launch on 28th August 2025 exclusively on Netflix. Photo: Netflix.

    Launching on Netflix on August 28th is ‘The Thursday Murder Club’, which represents an adaptation of author Richard Osman’s popular murder mystery novel.

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    Directed by Chris Columbus (‘Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone’), the movie stars Helen Mirren (‘The Queen’), Pierce Brosnan (‘The World is Not Enough’), Ben Kingsley (‘Sexy Beast’), Celia Imrie (‘The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel’) and Naomi Ackie (‘Blink Twice’).

    Related Article: First Look at New Netflix Crime Adaptation ‘The Thursday Murder Club’

    Initial Thoughts

    Helen Mirren in 'The Thursday Murder Club'. Photo Credit: Giles Keyte / Netflix. © 2025 Netflix, Inc.
    Helen Mirren in ‘The Thursday Murder Club’. Photo Credit: Giles Keyte / Netflix. © 2025 Netflix, Inc.

    “Cozy Crime” is a genre appellation that some storytellers bristle at, invoking images of basic British TV detective series featuring quirkily named old folk digging into crimes in bucolic countryside landscapes. But when fully embraced and exploited for full entertainment value, it’s one that pays dividends.

    And, on the face of it, ‘The Thursday Murder Club’ could feel like it slots right alongside those sorts of shows –– you could even imagine it airing as a series on Sunday nights on the BBC. Yet this is a big-budget, star-driven movie that has even more to offer.

    Script and Direction

    Chris Columbus attends the NYC Special Screening of 'The Thursday Murder Club' on August 14, 2025 in New York City. Photo by Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images for Netflix.
    Chris Columbus attends the NYC Special Screening of ‘The Thursday Murder Club’ on August 14, 2025 in New York City. Photo by Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images for Netflix.

    Osman’s book launched a successful series of books and a healthy reading audience, so naturally there was pressure from the start to get the adaptation right. Fortunately, screenwriters Katy Brand (‘Good Luck to You, Leo Grande’) and Suzanne Heathcote (‘Killing Eve’) nail the tone and the basics while making any necessary changes as the story shifts mediums.

    The mystery itself is solid and intriguing, and while you might be able to guess some of the elements, it doesn’t spoil the enjoyment.

    In reality, it’s the characters you end up rooting for, and the screenplay features more than enough wittiness and charm to make them work on the page, even before considering the quality cast attached.

    Chris Columbus certainly has experience bringing beloved British books to screens, and with ‘Thursday Murder Club’ he largely keeps things balanced and stays out of the way of the plot. Aside from some stylish flashbacks to another case, and some great tricks to keep you guessing on the crime front, the movie unfolds without fuss.

    Cast and Performances

    (L to R) Helen Mirren, Sir Ben Kingsley, Pierce Brosnan, and Celia Imrie in 'The Thursday Murder Club'. Photo Credit: Giles Keyte / Netflix. © 2025 Netflix, Inc.
    (L to R) Helen Mirren, Sir Ben Kingsley, Pierce Brosnan, and Celia Imrie in ‘The Thursday Murder Club’. Photo Credit: Giles Keyte / Netflix. © 2025 Netflix, Inc.

    It’s not every murder mystery that can boast the talents of Academy Award-winning actors, and this one really makes the most of its cast.

    Helen Mirren is the perfect Elizabeth, a former MI6 operative who can’t shake her investigative training even if she is now living in a retirement home. Imperious, impatient and occasionally impolite (though usually only when she’s frustrated with others), Elizabeth also has a vulnerable streak, not least when dealing with her husband Stephen (a superb Jonathan Pryce), who is struggling with creeping dementia.

    Pierce Brosnan, meanwhile, gets to show off his comedy chops along with his trademark gruff charisma as Ron, a trade union leader who is a key member of the club.

    Also on the team is retired psychologist Ibrahim, played by Ben Kingsley, who applies his training to figuring out motives and schemes. It’s a welcome change of gear for the actor, who puts in an appealingly nervy, quiet performance.

    Celia Imrie’s former nurse Joyce is the new recruit, brought aboard for her medical background and willingness to go along with Elizabeth and co’s ideas –– even when they conflict with local law enforcement.

    (L to R) David Tennant and Henry Lloyd Hughes in 'The Thursday Murder Club'. Photo: Giles Keyte/Netflix. © 2025 Netflix, Inc.
    (L to R) David Tennant and Henry Lloyd Hughes in ‘The Thursday Murder Club’. Photo: Giles Keyte/Netflix. © 2025 Netflix, Inc.

    Around the core cast, a solid group of British character actors adds flavor and spice to the story, including the likes of Ackie (who is a friendly police constable) and David Tennant (as a loathsome property developer whose latest deal threatens the sanctity of the Club’s Cooper’s Chase retirement home.

    Others include Daniel Mays as DCI Chris Hudson, endlessly confounded by our heroes’ meddling and Tom Ellis, who is Ron’s son Jason, a famous fighter sidelined by injury who has found fame on TV.

    Final Thoughts

    (L to R) Tom Ellis and Helen Mirren in 'The Thursday Murder Club', which will launch on 28th August 2025 exclusively on Netflix. Photo: Netflix.
    (L to R) Henry Lloyd Hughes and Helen Mirren in ‘The Thursday Murder Club’, which will launch on 28th August 2025 exclusively on Netflix. Photo: Netflix.

    ‘The Thursday Murder Club’ is an effective, well-crafted example of the murder mystery genre, one that celebrates its source material while also making smart decisions about turning the story into a movie.

    Chances are the film will have you hoping for a spin-off series, but with a batch of books in Osman’s novel series, we may have to settle for more movies.

    But if any further movies can keep up the blend of crafty mystery and genuine emotion on display here, it’ll be a good day for Cozy Crime in general.

    ‘The Thursday Murder Club’ receives a score of 85 out of 100.

    (L to R) Sir Ben Kingsley as Ibrahim Arif, Pierce Brosnan as Ron Ritchie, author Richard Osman, Helen Mirren as Elizabeth Best, Celia Imrie as Joyce Meadowcroft and director Chris Columbus on the set of 'The Thursday Murder Club'. Photo: Courtesy of Netflix © 2024. © 2025 Netflix, Inc.
    (L to R) Sir Ben Kingsley as Ibrahim Arif, Pierce Brosnan as Ron Ritchie, author Richard Osman, Helen Mirren as Elizabeth Best, Celia Imrie as Joyce Meadowcroft and director Chris Columbus on the set of ‘The Thursday Murder Club’. Photo: Courtesy of Netflix © 2024. © 2025 Netflix, Inc.

    What’s the story of ‘The Thursday Murder Club’?

    Four irrepressible retirees spend their time solving cold case murders for fun, but their casual sleuthing takes a thrilling turn when they find themselves with a real whodunit on their hands.

    Who is in the cast of ‘The Thursday Murder Club’?

    • Helen Mirren as Elizabeth Best
    • Pierce Brosnan as Ron Ritchie
    • Ben Kingsley as Ibrahim Arif
    • Celia Imrie as Joyce Meadowcroft
    • Naomi Ackie as Donna de Freitas
    • Daniel Mays as DCI Chris Hudson
    • Tom Ellis as Jason Ritchie
    • Jonathan Pryce as Stephen Best
    • David Tennant as Ian Ventham
    (L to R) Helen Mirren, Pierce Brosnan, Sir Ben Kingsley, Celia Imrie, and Naomi Ackie in 'The Thursday Murder Club'. Photo Credit: Giles Keyte / Netflix. © 2025 Netflix, Inc.
    (L to R) Helen Mirren, Pierce Brosnan, Sir Ben Kingsley, Celia Imrie, and Naomi Ackie in ‘The Thursday Murder Club’. Photo Credit: Giles Keyte / Netflix. © 2025 Netflix, Inc.

    List of Pierce Brosnan Movies and TV Shows:

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  • Max Minghella in Talks for DC Studios’ ‘Clayface’

    (Left) Max Minghella in 'Spiral'. Photo: Lionsgate. (Right) DC Comics' Clayface. Photo: DC Comics.
    (Left) Max Minghella in ‘Spiral’. Photo: Lionsgate. (Right) DC Comics’ Clayface. Photo: DC Comics.

    Preview:

    • Max Minghella is in talks to join the Clayface movie.
    • James Watkins is in the director’s chair.
    • Tom Rhys Harries has the lead role.

    As pre-production continues on the movie, the cast for DC Studios’ horror-inflected, Batman-adjacent ‘Clayface’ is growing.

    Max Minghella, currently best known for his role on ‘The Handmaid’s Tale’, is close to a deal to join the movie, according to The Hollywood Reporter.

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    Tom Rhys Harries has the lead role, while James Watkins, who last directed ‘Speak No Evil’, is overseeing the movie, which has seen script work from Mike Flanagan and Hossein Amini.

    Naomi Ackie is also recently joined the lead ensemble.

    Related Article: ‘Mickey 17’s Naomi Ackie in Talks for a Role in DC Studios’ ‘Clayface’

    Who is Clayface exactly?

    DC Comics' Clayface. Photo: DC Comics.
    DC Comics’ Clayface. Photo: DC Comics.

    If you’re not up to date on the muddy man-monster, here’s your basic briefing on Clayface as a character.

    Created by Bill Finger and Bob Kane, the original Clayface, Basil Karlo, appeared in Detective Comics #40, published in June 1940, as a B-list actor who began a life of crime using the identity of a villain that he had portrayed in a horror film.

    Kane stated that the character was partially inspired by the 1925 Lon Chaney version of ‘The Phantom of the Opera’ and that his name was derived from Boris Karloff and Basil Rathbone.

    The Reporter’s sources say the story focuses on an ascending actor (Harries) whose face is disfigured by a gangster. As a last resort, the actor turns to a fringe Elizabeth Holmes-style scientist (Ackie) for help. Minghella will play a Gotham City detective dating Ackie’s character.

    Where else can we see Max Minghella?

    (L to R) Max Minghella, Olivia Thirlby, Emile Hirsch and Rachael Taylor in 'The Darkest Hour'. Photo: Summit Entertainment.
    (L to R) Max Minghella, Olivia Thirlby, Emile Hirsch and Rachael Taylor in ‘The Darkest Hour’. Photo: Summit Entertainment.

    Besides ‘The Handmaid’s Tale’, Minghella is known for the likes of ‘The Social Network’, ‘Babylon’, ‘The Internship’ and ‘Agora’.

    He’s also a directed, having made ‘Teen Spirit’ and the upcoming ‘Shell’, which premiered last year at the Toronto International Film Festival and is in cinemas at the end of the week. The film stars Elisabeth Moss, Kate Hudson and Kaia Gerber.

    Minghella most recently worked on the fourth season of HBO series ‘Industry’, which should be on screens next year.

    When will the Clayface movie be in theaters?

    The movie has a scheduled plan for a UK shoot at Leavesden Studios in place, and Warner Bros. and DC Studios are confirming a September 11th, 2026 theatrical release for ‘Clayface’.

    DC Comics' Clayface. Photo: DC Comics.
    DC Comics’ Clayface. Photo: DC Comics.

    List of Max Minghella Movies and TV Shows:

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  • Naomi Ackie in Talks for DC Studios’ ‘Clayface’

    (Left) Naomi Ackie stars in 'Whitney Houston: I Wanna Dance with Somebody.' (Right) DC Comics' Clayface. Photo: DC Comics.
    (Left) Naomi Ackie stars in ‘Whitney Houston: I Wanna Dance with Somebody.’ (Right) DC Comics’ Clayface. Photo: DC Comics.

    Preview:

    • Naomi Ackie is in talks to join the Clayface movie.
    • James Watkins is in the director’s chair.
    • Tom Rhys Harries has the lead role.

    As ‘Superman’ continues to do solid business at the box office for James Gunn and Peter Safran’s DC Studios, attention is turning to the other titles that have been confirmed for their take on the DC Universe.

    Deadline brings word that Naomi Ackie, seen as Whitney Houston in musical biopic ‘I Wanna Dance With Somebody’ and sci-fi pic ‘Mickey 17’, is in talks for one of the main roles in ‘Clayface’.

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    Fellow UK-born actor Tom Rhys Harries has the lead role, while James Watkins, who last directed ‘Speak No Evil’, is overseeing the movie, which has seen script work from Mike Flanagan and Hossein Amini.

    Related Article: Welsh Actor Tom Rhys Harries Starring in DC Studios’ ‘Clayface’ Movie

    Who is Clayface exactly?

    DC Comics' Clayface. Photo: DC Comics.
    DC Comics’ Clayface. Photo: DC Comics.

    If you’re not up to date on the muddy man-monster, here’s your basic briefing on Clayface as a character.

    Created by Bill Finger and Bob Kane, the original Clayface, Basil Karlo, appeared in Detective Comics #40, published in June 1940, as a B-list actor who began a life of crime using the identity of a villain that he had portrayed in a horror film.

    Kane stated that the character was partially inspired by the 1925 Lon Chaney version of ‘The Phantom of the Opera’; and that his name was derived from Boris Karloff and Basil Rathbone.

    As for the tone of the movie itself, Deadline’s sources have heard that the Clayface movie is rumored to be a horror-thriller-tragedy, with the lead protagonist not expected to be portrayed as the notorious villain he’s usually seen as.

    Where else have I seen Naomi Ackie?

    Naomi Ackie in Tristar Pictures 'Whitney Houston: I Wanna Dance With Somebody.' Photo: Tristar Pictures.
    Naomi Ackie in Tristar Pictures ‘Whitney Houston: I Wanna Dance With Somebody.’ Photo: Tristar Pictures.

    In addition to the aforementioned roles in ‘I Wanna Dance with Somebody’ and ‘Mickey 17’, Ackie’s star has been on the rise for the last few years.

    Following her movie debut in 2016’s ‘Lady Macbeth’, she’s also popped up in the likes of ‘Yardie’ and ‘Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker’.

    Coming up, she has the Netflix movie adaptation of Richard Osman’s murder mystery novel ‘The Thursday Murder Club’, which stars Helen Mirren and Pierce Brosnan. That one will be streaming on August 28th.

    When will the Clayface movie be in theaters?

    The movie has a scheduled production plan for a UK shoot at Leavesden Studios in place, and Warner Bros. and DC Studios are confirming a September 11th, 2026 theatrical release for this one.

    DC Comics' Clayface. Photo: DC Comics.
    DC Comics’ Clayface. Photo: DC Comics.

     

    Selected Movies Featuring Naomi Ackie:

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  • First Look at ‘The Thursday Murder Club’

    (L to R) Ben Kingsley, Helen Mirren and Pierce Brosnan in 'The Thursday Murder Club', which will launch on 28th August 2025 exclusively on Netflix. Photo: Netflix.
    (L to R) Ben Kingsley, Helen Mirren and Pierce Brosnan in ‘The Thursday Murder Club’, which will launch on 28th August 2025 exclusively on Netflix. Photo: Netflix.

    Preview:

    • The first look at Netflix’s crime novel adaptation ‘The Thursday Murder Club’ has landed.
    • Pierce Brosnan, Helen Mirren and Ben Kingsley lead the cast.
    • The movie hits Netflix on 28th August.

    We’ve known for around a year now that Netflix and Steven Spielberg’s adaptation of the popular ‘Thursday Murder Club’ series by TV host/producer-turned-author Richard Osman is on the way, ever since the film announced casting with Pierce Brosnan, Helen Mirren, Ben Kingsley and Celia Imrie landing the lead roles.

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    That’s quite a murderer’s row of casting –– pun entirely intended, since the book and resulting film will fall cleanly into the cozy murder mystery genre that the UK does so well –– and cements the latest big move for Osman, whose novel series has been a massive bestseller.

    With Chris Columbus calling the shots, we now have the first look at the movie, and particularly the leads in the middle of their latest case. And if this one is a success, we can surely expect more.

    Other books in the series include ‘The Man Who Died Twice,’ ‘The Bullet That Missed,’ and ‘The Last Devil to Die,’ as well as the newest installment ‘The Impossible Fortune,’ which is released later this year.

    Here’s Osman’s statement on his inspiration for the stories –– spending time at his own mother’s retirement home:

    “You just sit and chat with these people and they’ve lived these extraordinary lives. You hear these amazing stories and gossip and wisdom. You think, ‘These people are so overlooked.’ The idea that these people with their wisdom and their invisibility would be the perfect people to solve a crime is exactly where ‘The Thursday Murder Club’ comes from. Take these people who are underestimated but who have these incredible skills, put them together, and they can achieve anything.”

    What’s the story of ‘The Thursday Murder Club’?

    (L to R) Celia Imrie, Ben Kingsley, Helen Mirren and Pierce Brosnan in 'The Thursday Murder Club', which will launch on 28th August 2025 exclusively on Netflix. Photo: Netflix.
    (L to R) Celia Imrie, Ben Kingsley, Helen Mirren and Pierce Brosnan in ‘The Thursday Murder Club’, which will launch on 28th August 2025 exclusively on Netflix. Photo: Netflix.

    Osman’s book, the first in a series follows four irrepressible retirees –– Elizabeth (Mirren), Ron (Brosnan), Ibrahim (Kingsley) and Joyce (Imrie) –– who spend their time solving cold case murders for fun.

    When an unexplained death occurs on their own doorstep, their casual sleuthing takes a thrilling turn as they find themselves with a real whodunit on their hands.

    And this is no ordinary group of retirees –– they all bring a particular set of skills to the table. Mirren’s Elizabeth is a former spy, Kingsley’s Ibrahim worked as a psychiatrist, Brosnan’s Ron spend his days as a union activist and Imrie’s Joyce was a nurse.

    Here’s what Columbus said about that main cast:

    “This is the finest cast I’ve worked with since ‘Potter.’ They’re just so incredibly well-prepared, and it’s because they do everything. They do theater, they do television, they do film, and they’ve developed those sorts of muscles.”

    Related Article: Pierce Brosnan Talks Director Terry Loane’s Drama ‘The Last Rifleman’

    Who is making ‘The Thursday Murder Club’ movie?

    (L to R) Tom Ellis and Helen Mirren in 'The Thursday Murder Club', which will launch on 28th August 2025 exclusively on Netflix. Photo: Netflix.
    (L to R) Tom Ellis and Helen Mirren in ‘The Thursday Murder Club’, which will launch on 28th August 2025 exclusively on Netflix. Photo: Netflix.

    Osman sold the rights to Spielberg’s Amblin company in 2020, shortly after the first book became a hit, and development quietly proceeded along.

    So, who did the company chose to adapt a popular series of novels set in the UK it hopes will spawn a successful franchise (and has form working with Spielberg)? That would be Columbus, who helped kick off the gigantic ‘Harry Potter’ film series!

    With Osman aboard as an executive producer, production happened last year and the first trailer should be on the way before we know it.

    And though the concept might seem more niche than the adventures of a boy wizard, the casting will certainly help push the idea here and beyond.

    While it originally looked like Columbus would pull double duty and also write the script, the adaptation instead come courtesy of actor and ‘Good Luck to You, Leo Grande’ writer Katy Brand and Suzanne Heathcote, whose credits include ‘Fear the Walking Dead,’ Apple TV+ series ‘The Crowded Room’ and a season of ‘Killing Eve.’

    Who else is appearing in ‘The Thursday Murder Club’?

    (L to R) Celia Imrie, Naomi Ackie and Ben Kingsley in 'The Thursday Murder Club', which will launch on 28th August 2025 exclusively on Netflix. Photo: Netflix.
    (L to R) Celia Imrie, Naomi Ackie and Ben Kingsley in ‘The Thursday Murder Club’, which will launch on 28th August 2025 exclusively on Netflix. Photo: Netflix.

    Beyond that starry main cast, we also have the likes of Naomi Ackie, Daniel Mays, Henry Lloyd-Hughes, Tom Ellis, Jonathan Pryce, David Tennant, Paul Freeman, Geoff Bell, Richard E. Grant and Ingrid Oliver.

    And we have a few character details for some of those…

    Ackie is Donna De Freitas, a local police officer and good friend to the Club’s members.

    Jonathan Pryce plays Stephen, husband to Mirren’s Elizabeth.

    Tom Ellis will be as Jason Ritchie, Ron’s (Brosnan) son and a retired boxer.

    Sarah Niles has the role of Patrice De Freitas, Donna’s mother.

    Ingrid Oliver will be Joanna Meadowcroft, Joyce’s (Imrie) daughter.

    When will ‘The Thursday Murder Club’ be on Netflix.

    Along with the first look photos, Netflix has announced that the movie will head to its servers on August 28th.

    'The Thursday Murder Club' will launch on 28th August 2025 exclusively on Netflix. Photo: Netflix.
    ‘The Thursday Murder Club’ will launch on 28th August 2025 exclusively on Netflix. Photo: Netflix.

    List of Pierce Brosnan Movies and TV Shows:

    Buy Pierce Brosnan Movies On Amazon

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  • Movie Review: ‘Mickey 17’

    (L to R) Robert Pattinson as Mickey 18 and Robert Pattinson as Mickey 17 in 'Mickey 17,' a Warner Bros. Pictures release. Photo Credit: Courtesy of Warner Bros. Pictures. Copyright: © 2025 Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc. All Rights Reserved.
    (L to R) Robert Pattinson as Mickey 18 and Robert Pattinson as Mickey 17 in ‘Mickey 17,’ a Warner Bros. Pictures release. Photo Credit: Courtesy of Warner Bros. Pictures. Copyright: © 2025 Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc. All Rights Reserved.

    ‘Mickey 17’ receives 6.5 out of 10 stars.

    Opening in theaters on March 7th, ‘Mickey 17’ is Korean director Bong Joon Ho’s follow-up to his Oscar-winning 2019 movie ‘Parasite.’

    Yet if you were to pick a film that feels more in the mode of his latest effort, ‘Mickey 17’ is more along the lines of his dystopian pic ‘Snowpiercer,’ given its futuristic setting and examination of imbalances in society between the haves and have-nots.

    Related Article: Chris Nolan Adds ‘Tenet’s Robert Pattinson to the Stacked Cast of his Mysterious New Film

    Does ‘Mickey 17’ replicate the success of the director’s previous movies?

    Robert (L to R) Robert Pattinson as Mickey 18 and Robert Pattinson as Mickey 17 in 'Mickey 17,' a Warner Bros. Pictures release. Photo Credit: Courtesy of Warner Bros. Pictures. Copyright: © 2025 Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc. All Rights Reserved. as Mickey 17 in 'Mickey 17,' a Warner Bros. Pictures release. Photo Credit: Courtesy of Warner Bros. Pictures. Copyright: © 2025 Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc. All Rights Reserved.Robert Pattinson as Mickey 17 in 'Mickey 17,' a Warner Bros. Pictures release. Photo Credit: Courtesy of Warner Bros. Pictures. Copyright: © 2025 Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc. All Rights Reserved.
    (L to R) Robert Pattinson as Mickey 18 and Robert Pattinson as Mickey 17 in ‘Mickey 17,’ a Warner Bros. Pictures release. Photo Credit: Courtesy of Warner Bros. Pictures. Copyright: © 2025 Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc. All Rights Reserved.

    When you have the reputation of a Bong Joon Ho, the pressure is naturally on to follow what has come before. The Korean filmmaker certainly has his obsessions, and here he’s expressing them once again through science fiction satire.

    If you were to compare this to anything outside of his canon, it would probably be the work of Terry Gilliam, who himself played well in the arena of satire blended with dystopia. Yet given the Oscar-winning status of ‘Parasite,’ this feels like a more minor effort from the director.

    Script and Direction

    (L to r) Director Bong Joon Ho and Robert Pattinson on the set of 'Mickey 17,' a Warner Bros. Pictures release. Photo Credit: Jonathan Olley.
    (L to r) Director Bong Joon Ho and Robert Pattinson on the set of ‘Mickey 17,’ a Warner Bros. Pictures release. Photo Credit: Jonathan Olley.

    Bong here is adapting the 2022 novel ‘Mickey7’ by Edward Ashton, taking the basic concept of an “expendable” worker aboard a spaceship (and later on the icy colony world of Niflheim) who has essentially signed up for lethal duties and to be printed out each time as a copy of himself.

    Complications arise when Mickey –– the 17th “copy” as per the title of the movie –– survives his latest, seemingly fatal mission and returns to his colony ship, only to discover that the 18th copy has already been printed and the current version isn’t exactly thrilled to be sharing resources or the affections of the woman Mickey has come to love, Naomi Ackie’s Nasha Barridge.

    This is Bong in full quirk mode, much as he was in ‘Snowpiercer,’ looking to blend comedy with social issues and poking fun at the corrupt excesses of those in charge (in this case, Mark Ruffalo’s Kenneth Marshall, a failed politician-turned-spiritual leader and businessman who is sponsoring the mission and bears distinct tonal resemblance to a certain current occupant of high political office.

    Mark Ruffalo as Kenneth Marshall in 'Mickey 17,' a Warner Bros. Pictures release. Photo Credit: Courtesy of Warner Bros. Pictures. Copyright: © 2025 Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc. All Rights Reserved.
    Mark Ruffalo as Kenneth Marshall in ‘Mickey 17,’ a Warner Bros. Pictures release. Photo Credit: Courtesy of Warner Bros. Pictures. Copyright: © 2025 Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc. All Rights Reserved.

    The issue with ‘Mickey 17’ is that it’s often tonally confused, trying to blend its message with the wacky weirdness surrounding its title character’s existence. It doesn’t always gel that naturally, and Bong as both writer and director could have benefitted from tighter editing, the movie sometimes drifting off on tangents that add little to either the humor or the points that he’s trying to make.

    Stylistically, it’s certainly committed to an offbeat blend of corporate soullessness and the organic side of the planet where the colonists end up. And the movie also lets montage do a lot of heavy lifting here, filling in a lot of information in a short time.

    Cast and Performances

    Robert Pattinson as Mickey 17 in 'Mickey 17,' a Warner Bros. Pictures release. Photo Credit: Courtesy of Warner Bros. Pictures. Copyright: © 2025 Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc. All Rights Reserved.
    Robert Pattinson as Mickey 17 in ‘Mickey 17,’ a Warner Bros. Pictures release. Photo Credit: Courtesy of Warner Bros. Pictures. Copyright: © 2025 Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc. All Rights Reserved.

    The movie’s focus is, of course, on the various Mickeys, all played by Robert Pattinson (albeit mostly as the 17th and 18th incarnations). Despite being genetic copies, each Mickey is subtly different –– the 18th, for example, is pushier than the 17th.

    In general, though, Pattinson gives them all an appealing sad-sack quality in a mostly vanity-fee performance that is always watchable. The actor has been doing compelling work for years, signing up to collaborate with interesting filmmakers and Bong is no exception.

    Still, there are times when Mickey as a character comes across as more a collection of ticks than he does a man –– though that’s more down to the script than Pattinson’s acting.

    Mark Ruffalo is clearly having fun playing Kenneth Marshall, the preening, dumb leader of the colony ship whose only thought is how he’ll look good to those around him. It’s a fine, funny performance, though poor Toni Collette is left with much less to do as his wife, Ylfa –– aside from a couple of standout moments, she feels largely wasted.

    (L to R) Naomi Ackie as Nasha and Robert Pattinson as Mickey 17 in 'Mickey 17,' a Warner Bros. Pictures release. Photo Credit: Courtesy of Warner Bros. Pictures. Copyright: © 2025 Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc. All Rights Reserved.
    (L to R) Naomi Ackie as Nasha and Robert Pattinson as Mickey 17 in ‘Mickey 17,’ a Warner Bros. Pictures release. Photo Credit: Courtesy of Warner Bros. Pictures. Copyright: © 2025 Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc. All Rights Reserved.

    Much more impactful is Naomi Ackie, no stranger to space-borne genre work after ‘Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker‘. She takes full advantage of playing security agent Nasha, who is a badass with a soft side that finds romance with Mickey. She gets plenty to do in the movie, and makes the most of it.

    Around the central characters are a fun bunch of supporting types, including Steven Yeun as Mickey’s sleazy childhood friend Timo, who is only too quick to let him down. Credit also to the likes of Patsy Ferran as friendly scientist Dorothy and Tim Key, who has a small but memorable role as a Marshall obsessive who ends up dressed as a pigeon to support one of his odd pronouncements.

    Final Thoughts

    Robert Pattinson as Mickey 17 in 'Mickey 17,' a Warner Bros. Pictures release. Photo Credit: Courtesy of Warner Bros. Pictures. Copyright: © 2025 Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc. All Rights Reserved.
    Robert Pattinson as Mickey 17 in ‘Mickey 17,’ a Warner Bros. Pictures release. Photo Credit: Courtesy of Warner Bros. Pictures. Copyright: © 2025 Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc. All Rights Reserved.

    This won’t make the top three of Bong’s best movies, but it certainly still has its charms. Sci-fi satire is a tough genre to pull off, and here he delivers something that, if it sometimes feels like a poorer copy of this other work, is worth seeing.

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    What’s the plot of ‘Mickey 17’?

    Adapted from Edward Ashton’s novel ‘Mickey7’, the new movie stars Robert Pattinson as an “expendable” –– a disposable crew member on a space mission, selected for dangerous tasks because he can be renewed if his body dies, with his memories largely intact.

    With one regeneration, though, things go very wrong…

    Who is in the cast of ‘Mickey 17’?

    Director Bong Joon-ho for 'Mickey 17' at CinemaCon 2024. Photo: Warner Bros.
    Director Bong Joon-ho for ‘Mickey 17’ at CinemaCon 2024. Photo: Warner Bros.

    List of Bong Joon Ho Movies:

    Buy Tickets: ‘Mickey 17’ Movie Showtimes

    Buy Bong Joon Ho Movies on Amazon

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  • Movie Review: ‘Blink Twice’

    Channing Tatum stars as Slater King in director Zoë Kravitz's 'Blink Twice', an Amazon MGM Studios film.
    Channing Tatum stars as Slater King in director Zoë Kravitz’s ‘Blink Twice’, an Amazon MGM Studios film. Photo credit: Zachary Greenwood. © 2024 Amazon Content Services LLC. All Rights Reserved.

    Opening in theaters August 23 is ‘Blink Twice,’ directed by Zoë Kravitz and starring Naomi Ackie, Channing Tatum, Adria Arjona, Alia Shawkat, Christian Slater, Haley Joel Osment, Simon Rex, Kyle MacLachlan, and Geena Davis.

    Related Article: 30 Best Channing Tatum Movies of All Time!

    Initial Thoughts

    (L to R) Naomi Ackie stars as Frida in director Zoë Kravitz's 'Blink Twice', an Amazon MGM Studios film.
    (L to R) Naomi Ackie stars as Frida in director Zoë Kravitz’s ‘Blink Twice’, an Amazon MGM Studios film. Photo credit: Carlos Somonte. © 2024 Amazon Content Services LLC. All Rights Reserved.

    Actors sometimes have trouble crossing over to take up a position behind the camera, but Zoë Kravitz seems to be making the transition effectively. ‘Blink Twice’ is a confident directorial showcase for the ‘Big Little Lies’ and ‘The Batman’ star: she may hit a few narrative and tonal bumps, but she stays focused on the story she wants to tell and gets the most out of a terrific cast while doing so.

    ‘Blink Twice’ starts off as a satire, not to mention a riff on the kind of setup we’ve seen before in movies like ‘The Menu’ and ‘Get Out,’ where the protagonist finds themselves in a remote, seemingly friendly (and luxurious) location before things start go off the rails. ‘Blink Twice’ tests the viewer’s forbearance for a chunk of its 100 minutes, but if you’re patient enough the ending should be rewarding in many ways.

    Story and Direction

    (L to R) Actor Channing Tatum and director Zoë Kravitz on the set of their film 'Blink Twice',
    (L to R) Actor Channing Tatum and director Zoë Kravitz on the set of their film ‘Blink Twice’, an Amazon MGM Studios film. Photo credit: Carlos Somonte. © 2024 Amazon Content Services LLC. All Rights Reserved.

    Frida (Naomi Ackie) sits in her cramped apartment obsessing over tech-bro gazillionaire Slater King (Channing Tatum), who’s re-entering public life with an apology tour following an unnamed indiscretion (or series of them) that got him canceled. Frida and her roommate/bestie Jess (Alia Shawkat) are waitresses who manage to get work at a reception thrown for King, where they finagle their way into the VIP area and Frida gets a chance to meet-cute with the man himself.

    The charming Slater and Frida hit it off right away, flirting furiously with each other until he invites her and Jess to travel with him and his entourage that night to his private island. Neither woman has packed a bag, but that’s no matter: once they get to Slater’s luxurious, decadent private resort, they are provided bathing suits and white linen robes to wear, even perfume to dab on, plus drinks and drugs aplenty along with fabulously curated meals prepared by star chef Cody (Simon Rex), all using locally farmed produce.

    It’s the middle stretch of ‘Blink Twice’ that’s ostensibly the most troublesome for Kravitz and her screenwriting partner, E.T. Feigenbaum: the second act becomes a repetitive series of hedonistic montages punctuated like clockwork every now and then by a strange occurrence, as Frida and another guest, reality show veteran Sarah (Adria Arjona), compete for Slater’s attention and the rest – including Slater’s right-hand man Vic (Christian Slater), scuzzy hanger-on Tom (Haley Joel Osment), a couple of other party-hardy girls, and Slater’s perpetually flaky personal assistant Stacy (Geena Davis) – indulge in night after night of booze, drugs, and poolside languor until even the days seem to dissolve into each other.

    (L to R) Naomi Ackie stars as Frida and Adria Arjona as Sarah in director Zoë Kravitz's 'Blink Twice', an Amazon MGM Studios film.
    (L to R) Naomi Ackie stars as Frida and Adria Arjona as Sarah in director Zoë Kravitz’s ‘Blink Twice’, an Amazon MGM Studios film. Photo credit: Carlos Somonte. © 2024 Amazon Content Services LLC. All Rights Reserved.

    We know this is not going to end well, but Kravitz makes us wait a bit longer than necessary. Perhaps the way in which she extends that wait makes the movie’s pivot that much more shocking even when you know it’s coming eventually. When things do turn, it’s quick: Frida discovers that Jess has gone missing, and not only does no one seem to remember that she was there in the first place, but Frida herself begins to realize that her memories of the past few days are murky at best and barely there at worst. With the help of a reluctant but increasingly trusting Sarah, Frida learns the horrible, toxic truth.

    We’ll let you discover that truth for yourself, but it’s here that ‘Blink Twice’ makes its full turn from satire to horror to revenge thriller, with a final act that is both crazy in its sheer energy and bracing in its aggressive sense of purpose. It’s a tribute to Kravitz and her cast that the shift, while jarring at first, leads to a violently satisfying climax that makes the more morally ambiguous coda easier to swallow.

    Whatever issues Kravitz may have with putting her twisty narrative through its paces, she doesn’t seem to have any with the technical aspects of directing. Under her command, the sound design is excellent, the soundtrack is popping (no surprise there, really), and the cinematography by Adam Newport-Berra captures the saturated excess of Slater King’s lifestyle, the foggy wooziness of what at first seems to be endless nights and days of partying, and the dark, bloody reality underneath. It’ll be fascinating to see what Kravitz does next.

    The Cast

    (L to R) Levon Hawke stars as Lucas, Simon Rex as Cody, Liz Caribel as Camilla, Channing Tatum as Slater King, Haley Joel Osment as Tom, Trew Mullen as Heather, Naomi Ackie as Frida, Adria Arjona as Sarah and Alia Shawkat as Jess in director Zoë Kravitz's 'Blink Twice', an Amazon MGM Studios film. Photo credit: Courtesy of Amazon MGM Studios © 2024 Amazon Content Services LLC. All Rights Reserved.
    (L to R) Levon Hawke stars as Lucas, Simon Rex as Cody, Liz Caribel as Camilla, Channing Tatum as Slater King, Haley Joel Osment as Tom, Trew Mullen as Heather, Naomi Ackie as Frida, Adria Arjona as Sarah and Alia Shawkat as Jess in director Zoë Kravitz’s ‘Blink Twice’, an Amazon MGM Studios film. Photo credit: Courtesy of Amazon MGM Studios © 2024 Amazon Content Services LLC. All Rights Reserved.

    We’ve only seen Naomi Ackie being largely underused in ‘Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker,’ but she did garner praise for 2022’s Whitney Houston biopic, ‘I Wanna Dance with Somebody.’ This is our first time watching her in a lead role and Ackie nails it easily. Her work as Frida is initially vulnerable and open-hearted, even if her obsession with Slater seems questionable. But she never fully trades in her self-respect, which makes her transformation from victim to avenging warrior all the more believable.

    She also makes a great pairing with Arjona, who starts out as competitive and distrusting – especially with Frida – before recalling and embracing the time-honored (and perpetually true) maxim that women only have each other to look out for them in the end. Her arc here is better developed than Arjona’s last major role, as a femme fatale in ‘Hit Man,’ and she runs with it for all its worth, delivering an excellent performance that may mark her a star in the making.

    Channing Tatum initially turns on the charm and faux vulnerability as Slater, a man who may be doing his best to appear humbled but never quite makes it seem genuine – underneath, he’s angry that he has to take responsibility for his actions. He says all the right things about therapy and rehab and spirituality, but Tatum’s essential blandness works for him in this instance, hinting at the emptiness that lurks inside Slater. Even his seeming interest in Frida curdles after a while, long before things really go south, and his air of entitlement during the film’s third act is as horrifying as anything else.

    Final Thoughts

    (L to R) Naomi Ackie stars as Frida in director Zoë Kravitz's 'Blink Twice', an Amazon MGM Studios film.
    (L to R) Naomi Ackie stars as Frida in director Zoë Kravitz’s ‘Blink Twice’, an Amazon MGM Studios film. Photo credit: Carlos Somonte. © 2024 Amazon Content Services LLC. All Rights Reserved.

    ‘Blink Twice’ initially begins, somewhat eccentrically, as one of those poke-fun-at-the-super-rich send-ups that can easily become boring because the fruit is so low-hanging. But there’s just enough of a feeling from the beginning that something is out of sorts – even with Kravitz dropping clues throughout – to allow a sense of dread to creep into the proceedings. That still doesn’t prepare you for what the director has in store, and it’s refreshing that she’s not interested in returning to any satirical comfort zone once the mayhem begins.

    There are no doubt some who will label ‘Blink Twice’ as “divisive,” but they’d be really missing the point about the systemic failure that keeps letting someone at a certain level of wealth and fame get away with the unspeakable just because he says he’s all better now. ‘Blink Twice’ is also a cautionary tale about what happens when too much power and opportunity is left in the hands of truly stunted personalities, and a rallying cry for people – especially women – to look after each other.

    Kravitz certainly comes from wealth and fame herself, but she has almost certainly come up against those toxic types as well despite her privilege. ‘Blink Twice’ is a scream of rage on behalf of those who don’t have the resources to defend themselves, and while it gets messy and scattershot at times, it manifests a primal power that we’d like see Kravitz keep channeling.

    ‘Blink Twice’ receives 7 out of 10 stars.

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    What is the plot of ‘Blink Twice’?

    A starstruck waitress and her friend are invited to the private island of a billionaire tech mogul, where endless days and nights of debauchery and partying soon give way to the realization that something is very wrong.

    Who is in the cast of ‘Blink Twice’?

    • Naomi Ackie as Frida
    • Channing Tatum as Slater King
    • Christian Slater as Vic
    • Alia Shawkat as Jess
    • Adria Arjona as Sarah
    • Simon Rex as Cody
    • Kyle MacLachlan as Rich
    • Haley Joel Osment as Tom
    • Geena Davis as Stacy
    (L to R) Liz Caribel stars as Camilla and Trew Mullen as Heather in director Zoë Kravitz's 'Blink Twice', an Amazon MGM Studios film. Photo credit: Carlos Somonte. © 2024 Amazon Content Services LLC. All Rights Reserved.
    (L to R) Liz Caribel stars as Camilla and Trew Mullen as Heather in director Zoë Kravitz’s ‘Blink Twice’, an Amazon MGM Studios film. Photo credit: Carlos Somonte. © 2024 Amazon Content Services LLC. All Rights Reserved.

    Zoë Kravitz Movies and TV Shows:

    Buy Zoë Kravitz Movies on Amazon

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  • Zoë Kravitz Joins Austin Butler in ‘Caught Stealing’

    (Left) Zoe Kravitz arrives on the red carpet of the 94th Oscars® at the Dolby Theatre at Ovation Hollywood in Los Angeles, CA, on Sunday, March 27, 2022. Credit/Provider: Michael Baker / A.M.P.A.S. Copyright: ©A.M.P.A.S. (Right) Austin Butler arrives at the Academy’s 13th Governors Awards on Saturday, November 19, 2022, in Los Angeles. Credit/Provider: Blaine Ohigashi / ©A.M.P.A.S. Copyright: ©A.M.P.A.S.
    (Left) Zoe Kravitz arrives on the red carpet of the 94th Oscars® at the Dolby Theatre at Ovation Hollywood in Los Angeles, CA, on Sunday, March 27, 2022. Credit/Provider: Michael Baker / A.M.P.A.S. Copyright: ©A.M.P.A.S. (Right) Austin Butler arrives at the Academy’s 13th Governors Awards on Saturday, November 19, 2022, in Los Angeles. Credit/Provider: Blaine Ohigashi / ©A.M.P.A.S. Copyright: ©A.M.P.A.S.

    Preview:

    • Zoë Kravitz is set to star with Austin Butler in crime thriller ‘Caught Stealing’.
    • Darren Aronofsky is directing the new movie.
    • Novelist Charlie Huston is adapting his own book.

    We brought news back in March of Austin Butler landing another plum role in the shape of the lead for ‘The Whale’ director Darren Aronofsky’s new crime thriller ‘Caught Stealing’.

    Aronofsky is adding to the cast, as Deadline reports that Zoë Kravitz will now play a role alongside Butler.

    Related Article: Austin Butler to star in ‘Caught Stealing’ for Director Darren Aronofsky

    What’s the story of ‘Caught Stealing’?

    Austin Butler stars as Benny in director Jeff Nichols' 'The Bikeriders,' a Focus Features release.
    Austin Butler stars as Benny in director Jeff Nichols’ ‘The Bikeriders,’ a Focus Features release. Credit: Courtesy of Focus Features. © 2024 Focus Features, LLC. All Rights Reserved.

    The film will be based on Charlie Huston’s novel, which follows burned out former baseball pro Hank Thompson (Butler).

    Hank’s neighbor, Russ, has to leave town in a rush and hands over his cat, named Bud, in a carrier. But it isn’t until two Russians in tracksuits drag Hank over the bar at the joint where he works and beat him to a pulp that he starts to get the idea: someone wants something from him. He just doesn’t know what it is, where it is, or how to make them understand he doesn’t have it.

    Within twenty-four hours Hank is running over rooftops, swinging his old aluminum bat for the sweet spot of a guy’s head, playing hide and seek with the NYPD, riding the subway with a dead man at his side, and counting a whole lot of cash on a concrete floor…

    Aronofsky has Huston aboard to adapt the book for the screen.

    As for Kravitz, her role in the story has yet to be revealed.

    ‘Caught Stealing’: The Director Speaks

    Director Darren Aronofsky on the set of 'The Whale' from A24.
    Director Darren Aronofsky on the set of ‘The Whale’ from A24.

    The new movie finds Aronofsky in business with Sony, which picked up the book package and got the director interested.

    Here’s what Aronofsky had to say:

    “I am excited to be teaming up with my old friends at Sony Pictures to bring Charlie’s adrenaline-soaked roller coaster ride to life. I can’t wait to start working with Austin and my family of NYC filmmakers,” said Aronofsky.

    And here’s what Sony Pictures Motion Picture Group president Sanford Panitch commented:

    0“Darren is one of the most brilliant audiovisual storytellers in the world and adapting these wonderful books by Charlie Huston for Austin to star was too exciting an opportunity to not be a part of.”

    What else is Zoë Kravitz working on?

    Zoe Kravitz as Selina Kyle and Robert Pattinson as Batman in Warner Bros. Pictures’ action adventure 'The Batman,' a Warner Bros. Pictures release.
    (L to R) Zoe Kravitz as Selina Kyle and Robert Pattinson as Batman in Warner Bros. Pictures’ action adventure ‘The Batman,’ a Warner Bros. Pictures release. Photo Credit: Jonathan Olley/™ & © DC Comics. Copyright: © 2021 Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc. All Rights Reserved.

    Kravitz, who was last seen in ‘The Batman’ as Selina Kyle, stepped behind the cameras for ‘Blink Twice’, a new thriller she co-wrote with E.T. Feigenbaum.

    It sees cocktail waitress Frida (Naomi Ackie) meeting tech billionaire Slater King (Channing Tatum) and scoring an invite to his private island for what appears to be a dream vacation. One that quickly starts to feel more like a nightmare.

    The movie will be in theaters on August 23rd.

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    When will ‘Caught Stealing’ be in theaters?

    With the movie still at a relatively early stage, Sony has yet to schedule a release date. But if it can be shot this year, it could be on screens later in 2025.

    Zoe Kravitz arrives on the red carpet of the 94th Oscars® at the Dolby Theatre at Ovation Hollywood in Los Angeles, CA, on Sunday, March 27, 2022. Credit/Provider: Matt Sayles / A.M.P.A.S. Copyright: ©A.M.P.A.S.
    Zoe Kravitz arrives on the red carpet of the 94th Oscars® at the Dolby Theatre at Ovation Hollywood in Los Angeles, CA, on Sunday, March 27, 2022. Credit/Provider: Matt Sayles / A.M.P.A.S. Copyright: ©A.M.P.A.S.

    Other Zoë Kravitz Movies and TV Shows:

    Buy Zoë Kravitz Movies on Amazon

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