The Netflix adaptation of Richard Osman’s 2020 novel, The Thursday Murder Club, is set to hit screens soon and has already received mixed reviews.
Helmed by Chris Columbus, the film aims to encapsulate the quintessentially British humour of the book, while featuring a host of Hollywood stars.
While the creators relished the task of bringing the novel to life on screen, they confessed that due to time limitations, some plot points and finer details had to be omitted. Columbus expressed his regret over one particular aspect of the final cut, lamenting that audiences wouldn’t fully appreciate the intricate details of one character’s flat.
Speaking at the British Library prior to the film’s release, he revealed: “I think the audience is not getting to see all of Ibrahim’s flat. So that’s really my biggest regret.
“Ibrahim’s flat was stunning. You could actually move into it, it was that amazing, and we really never get to see enough of it. So that would be the thing I regret the most.”
Sir Ben Kingsley, who portrays Ibrahim Arif in the film, specifically requested that his character’s home should include a photograph of his parents and framed Islamic prints, reflecting his character’s heritage.
The idea for Ibrahim to sport bow ties with his smart suits was also a brainchild of Kingsley.
James Merifield, the production designer, described Ibrahim’s home as having “has the feel of a traditional gentleman’s club with its mahogany panelling, burgundy walls and paisley prints”.
To bring Coopers Chase to life, Merifield took filming to Englefield House in Berkshire – a Grade II listed house originally built in 1558.
Within the house itself, numerous rooms and corridors were transformed to provide the residents with their sophisticated shared areas.
For instance, Joyce Meadowcroft’s (Celia Imrie) flat mirrors her cheerful and vibrant character and the design “originally grew from the idea of a Lemon Drizzle cake and went from there.
“We visualised a cross between Mary Berry and Laura Ashley.”
The graveyard set drew inspiration from a section of the renowned Highgate Cemetery in North London and proved so realistic that several cast members, including Helen Mirren, believed it was genuine.
Henry Lloyd-Hughes, who plays Bogdan, only recognised his error when he accidentally dropped his spade and damaged a plaster headstone.
The Thursday Murder Club airs on Netflix on August 28