Bestselling author Richard Osman has announced he will take a more hands-on role in the upcoming Netflix adaptation of his new crime series We Solve Murders, marking a shift from his previous approach with the Thursday Murder Club film adaptation.
The Thursday Murder Club, Osman’s first series of novels, was adapted into a feature film released on Netflix last summer. Despite a high-profile cast including Dame Helen Mirren, Pierce Brosnan, Celia Imrie, and Sir Ben Kingsley, and with legendary filmmaker Steven Spielberg as producer, the film received mixed reviews from fans who felt the charm of the books was missing. Osman had initially elected not to be closely involved, trusting experienced filmmakers to lead the project.
Speaking at the Bloody Scotland International Crime Writing Festival in Stirling, Osman confirmed that We Solve Murders is being developed as a television series by Netflix. Unlike the film, Osman plans to be more engaged throughout the production process to ensure the adaptation better captures the spirit of his novels.
Published in 2024, We Solve Murders centers on retired detective Steve Wheeler, who lives in a New Forest village with his cat Troubles, and his daughter-in-law Amy, a globe-trotting bodyguard. The story follows their investigation into a murder that Amy is framed for while protecting bestselling author Rosie D’Antonio on her private island. The second book, We Chase Shadows, out now, expands their team as they establish a detective agency and tackle a murder investigation in the Italian hills. Inspired in part by Osman’s childhood love for Enid Blyton’s The Famous Five, the series features a core group that includes Steve’s best friend Tony.
Osman, 55, creator of quiz shows Pointless and House of Games, said he devised We Solve Murders to allow greater creative freedom by setting his characters in various international locations, contrasting with the retirement village setting of Thursday Murder Club. He acknowledged the challenge of sustaining a long-running series and indicated plans to alternate between the two franchises while also developing a new, separate American-themed project.
The author expressed a strong interest in exploring themes such as family dynamics, male friendships, and grief throughout his writing. In We Solve Murders, the relationship between Steve and his son Adam is particularly significant, reflecting Osman’s own experience of growing up without a father.
Osman also touched on the evolving publishing landscape, referencing a subplot involving Rosie D’Antonio’s publicist suggesting sensational promotional tactics, including appearing on the social media show Hot Ones. He commented on the shift in author marketing, disputing the notion that social media followings dictate publishing success and citing a recent case involving bestselling author James Patterson collaborating with YouTube star MrBeast, whose book sales defied expectations despite his massive online influence.
With his writing commitments growing, Osman announced his decision to step down from hosting the quiz show House of Games after many years on air. Actor Michael Sheen will succeed him in the role. Osman described the move as a necessary step to focus more on his literary projects, recording roughly 100 episodes annually having become increasingly demanding on his time.