The Thursday Murder Club author Richard Osman reveals what he really thinks about controversial movie adaptation change fans branded ‘unforgivable’

The author of The Thursday Murder Club book series has hinted at his true feelings about an ‘unforgivable’ movie adaptation change that had fans of the original novels fuming.

Presenter Richard Osman appeared to call for ‘justice for Bogdan’ a character who, in the source material, has a dramatically different storyline to the one presented in the film.

In his latest writing newsletter, he seemed less than impressed at the cinematic arc for the Polish handyman in the amateur sleuth flick, who despite being revealed as the killer in both versions has very different motives.

And many were baffled by scenes which saw Bogdan confess his crime even though there is no solid evidence against him – as in the subsequent murder mystery books, he becomes close with the crime-solving retirees and eventually starts dating police officer PC Donna De Freitas (Naomi Ackie) . 

However, sealing his fate as a convicted killer effectively shuts down the possibility that he will be a part of any future sequels.

‘Hi gang,’ Richard penned. ‘Let’s just deal with the movie first. I’m so glad so many of you around the world have enjoyed it so much.

‘It hopefully means there will be more to come! You’ll be the first to know, I promise!

‘This is a book newsletter of course, and we’ll all be aware of some of the ‘differences’ between the film and the first book (see the title of this newsletter) so I thought you’d especially like an exclusive peek at a section of the film which Chris Columbus had to cut, starring the wonderful Joseph Marcell as Father Mackie. This will also be appearing on Netflix soon, but you’re seeing it first!’

The subtle ‘dig’ was spotted by fans, who took to Reddit to voice their thoughts.

‘I get the impression Richard Osman also isn’t impressed with Bogdan’s ending for the film after receiving his newsletter today,’ one wrote. ‘Where the heading says #JusticeForBogdan.

‘He goes on to talk about the changes from the book to the screen in very little detail. But it’s acknowledged at least!’

‘Osman has always been good at toeing the line when it comes to stuff like this but I’d love to know what he really thinks of it,’ another added.

‘Honestly, even the fact that he’s willing to put that hashtag in his newsletter is quite telling.’

Meanwhile, a third quipped: ‘He should probably have a chat with whomever sold the movie rights and allowed them to make such a change.’

Richard’s comments come in the wake of collective outrage on behalf of Thursday Murder Club viewers.

The film is directed by Chris Columbus and was released by the streamer on August 26 after weeks of anticipation.

It follows four senior sleuths Elizabeth (Dame Helen Mirren), Ron (Pierce Brosnan), Joyce (Celia Imrie), and Ibrahim (Sir Ben Kingsley) who band together to try and solve cold murder cases while spending their days at a charming retirement community. 

When the body of Tony Curran (played by Geoff Bell)- co-owner of the retirement home Coopers Chase – is discovered, the pensioners find themselves hot on the trail of a murderer much closer to home. 

Like in Richard’s bestselling novel, the killer is eventually revealed as his Polish employee Bogdan but everything that follows in the movie is a drastic departure from the book. 

According to the author’s version, Bogdan’s motive for killing his land developer boss is to avenge the death of his friend Kaz many years prior to the events unfolding at Coopers Chase in present day. 

It is revealed to readers that Tony hired a hitman, Turkish Johnny/Gianni, to murder taxi driver Kaz because he had seen the builder shoot someone at a pub during a botched drug deal. 

Enraged by Kaz’s death, Bogdan killed Tony’s associate straightaway and covered it up. 

Years later, Bogdan also took Tony out by tampering with the security system at his residence before sneaking in and then bludgeoning him to death. 

Bogdan’s reason for killing Tony is entirely different in the movie in which the stoic handyman takes Tony’s life in an act of self-defence. 

It is revealed to viewers that Tony and one of his friends, Bobby Tanner (Richard E Grant), were smuggling immigrants into the UK by luring them with better prospects then withholding their passports and essentially enslaving them. 

Bodgan is one of Tony’s smuggled workers who ends up killing him after the Coopers Chase co-owner refused to return his passport so he could visit his mother back home in Kraków, Poland. 

Like the book, it’s retired spy Elizabeth’s husband Stephen (Jonathan Pryce) who figures out the identity of Tony’s killer, but the movie adds the additional detail of Elizabeth becoming fearful that Bogdan will poison her husband. 

The movie also strays from its source material when Bogdan confesses his crime to the pensioner even though Stephen has no solid evidence against him. 

He is arrested after Stephen surreptitiously records his confession and hands it over to the investigating police officers as it appeared the makers effectively closed the door on his return to the film franchise.  

This deviation left Netflix viewers with a ‘sour taste’ because Bogdan has a very different arc in Osman’s Thursday Murder Club books, Reddit users pointed out. 

Reacting to the movie’s ending, many flooded the social media platform with angry messages demanding ‘justice for Bogdan’. 

‘They have shot themselves in the foot for any future films without Bogdan,’ one person wrote. 

Another said: ‘Agree. Watched with my parents, mum read it as well and we didn’t like this change at all. It completely changed an integral part of the story and the future stories.’ 

A similar comment read: ‘My reaction was exactly the same. I could have dealt with all the plot/story changes if they didn’t do what they did to Bogdan.’ 

One also said the change ‘doesn’t make any sense’ while another person felt it ‘literally added nothing’ and that the movie ‘took away so much from Bogdan’s character’. 

‘I found him very likable in the books, and reading about his character development was such a crucial piece to the story/series,’ they continued. 

Another felt the makers ‘didn’t understand the essence of Thursday Murder Club, Bogdan, Elizabeth, and Stephen’ as they added: ‘You can’t read the books and arrest Bogdan.

‘It just screams they don’t get it.’ 

A third said the movie’s ending was ‘such a bummer’ while yet another declared ‘you can’t do my boy Bogdan dirty like that’. 

Some swore off watching any sequels over the movie’s ‘unforgivable’ plot, noting ‘one disappointment is enough for me’. 

One scathing review compared the movie to an ‘episode of Law and Order’ while another noted the film’s script ‘butchered’ Bogdan’s confession to Stephen by using it as a ‘gotcha’ moment. 

‘This is literally the worst adaptation I have ever seen,’ one comment read. ‘Bogdan was/is Elizabeth’s RIDE OR DIE and vice versa. I will never watch another one of these unless the writers are replaced. 0/10. No redeeming anything.’

Others felt that the movie sacrificed Bogdan so Ron’s son, boxer-turned-reality TV star Jason Ritchie (played by Tom Ellis) would have a bigger role in any sequels. 

‘It seems like they’re setting it up that way,’ one person wrote. ‘Which is asinine. I get that the guy who plays Jason is a great actor and all but Bogdan was such an important character in the book – especially when it came to his friendship with Stephen.’ 

‘It’s pretty obvious that they’re cutting Bogdan for Ron’s son and I hate it. I love Tom Ellis, but Bogdan is my favorite character in the book,’ another disgruntled viewer noted. 

Others also felt that the film’s director Chris Columbus and its script writers would find a way to ‘redeem Bogdan’.  

One person suggested that ‘there was enough foreshadowing to suggest’ Bogdan will be released from prison, adding: ‘He kept repeating it was an accident, so maybe some evidence will arise showing it was an accident or self-defence.’ 

They conceded that while this wouldn’t be ‘enough in the real world’, it could secure Bodgan’s release in ‘film world’ – especially considering the ‘modern slavery’ storyline. 

‘Bogdan is literally a victim of modern slavery,’ one person highlighted. ‘His passport was stolen and he was forced to work. Realistically I think he would get off lightly.’ 

Another felt the changes were the result of trying to fit Richard’s 600-page book into a two-hour movie without changing who killed Tony.

‘They also teed up that it was a self defense case, and showed how Bogdan was already the victim of a crime, so it’s not insane to say he’d be back if they make sequels 

However, another viewer pointed out, Bodgan’s status an an illegal immigrant would logically suggest he would ‘probably be deported even if he was just magically released based on vibes’. 

Many felt that the decision to stray so far from the book’s handling of Bogdan’s character would also mean it’s impossible to carry out other storylines such as his romance with Donna. 

‘How will a cop marry someone who confessed to murder/manslaughter?’ 

‘I hated what they did with Bogdan! And the fact that Donna was the one to arrest him!!! If they make any sequels, how are they planning to resolve that issue considering Bogdan and Donna are together in subsequent books?’ another wondered. 

Yet another enraged viewer said: ‘Even if they found a way to get around the murder charge so that he could be in future movies…he just wouldn’t be the same any longer. 

‘It was just so sad,’ they continued. ‘He is such a great character.’