Following the success of Richard Osman’s literary empire, Netflix is staying firmly in business with the British author and presenter.
The streaming giant is currently developing a new drama series adapted from Osman’s latest bestselling crime novel, We Solve Murders.
The project marks the second major partnership between Netflix and Osman, whose debut phenomenon The Thursday Murder Club smashed publishing records—selling over 10 million copies worldwide—before making its leap to the screen. However, despite the star-studded appeal of its predecessor, the upcoming We Solve Murders series will pivot to an entirely new universe of global intrigue.
Plaintext
WE SOLVE MURDERS - SYNOPSIS
Steve Wheeler is enjoying retired life. He still does the odd bit of
investigation work, but he prefers the pub quiz and afternoons at home
with his cat Trouble. His days of adventure are over – that’s his
daughter-in-law Amy’s business now.
Amy Wheeler thinks adrenaline is good for the soul, which makes being a
private security officer to billionaires the perfect job. She’s currently
on a remote island keeping world-famous author Rosie D’Antonio alive.
Then a dead body, a bag of money and a killer with their sights on Amy
have her sending Steve an SOS... As a breakneck race around the world
begins, can they stay one step ahead of a deadly enemy?
The Shift from The Thursday Murder Club
While The Thursday Murder Club book series proved to be an absolute juggernaut on print release, its high-profile feature film adaptation—directed by Chris Columbus and starring Helen Mirren, Sir Ben Kingsley, and Pierce Brosnan—struggled to match expectations on the platform. The star-studded movie failed to pull in the massive viewing numbers Netflix typically targets for potential flagship movie franchises, making it unlikely the streamer will greenlight sequels to adapt Osman’s remaining retirement-home mystery novels.
Instead, Netflix appears to be redirecting its energy toward the fresh, high-octane premise of We Solve Murders. The original 2024 book immediately became an international bestseller upon release, praised for balancing Osman’s signature dry wit with an action-packed, globetrotting mystery.
By framing We Solve Murders as an episodic series rather than a feature film, Netflix aims to give the dynamic between Steve, Amy, and Rosie the breathing room needed to build a long-running television hit. Casting and production details for the adaptation are expected to be announced in the coming months.