Helen Mirren’s Netflix Mystery Debuts as Star Opens Up on Crime Inspiration

LOS ANGELES, Aug. 28, 2025 - Dame Helen Mirren returned to the screen today with the long-awaited release of Netflix’s The Thursday Murder Club, while also sharing insights into what fuels her portrayal of a retired sleuth.

In the film adaptation of Richard Osman’s bestselling novel, Mirren leads a quartet of retirees who investigate cold cases from their retirement community at Coopers Chase. The movie premiered globally on Netflix today, with co-stars Pierce Brosnan, Ben Kingsley and Celia Imrie joining Mirren on screen for a blend of British humour and heartfelt drama.

On the same day, Mirren told Newsweek that her years of watching NBC’s Dateline helped her channel the mindset of an amateur detective. “I’ve always been captivated by those remarkable instances where average individuals transform into something sinister,” she said, praising the series for its ability to reinvent the murder-mystery genre within a retirement-home setting.

Alongside her reflections on crime-scene psychology, Mirren also revealed in an interview published today in AOL that she remains close with her former Shazam! Fury of the Gods co-stars Lucy Liu and Rachel Zegler. “We text each other all the time and send each other love and support,” she explained, highlighting the enduring bonds she forms on set.