No drama for llamas in new Netflix mystery movie

Two llamas stood in a field being held by a woman in a cap wearing a green outfit — Image caption,
Llamas Gino, Barnaby and farm manager Sarah Brown appear in The Thursday Murder Club

Pete Cooper

BBC News, Northamptonshire

4 September 2025

Llamas that starred in the movie adaptation of The Thursday Murder Club had no problem with the film cameras, drones and early starts, their handler said.

The Netflix film, which is based on Richard Osman's bestselling book, stars Pierce Brosnan, Celia Imrie, Sir Ben Kingsley and Helen Mirren as a group of retirees who try to solve a murder.

Alongside the actors were llamas Barnaby, Emoji, Indigo, Fudge and Gino from Catanger Llamas in Weedon Lois near Towcester, Northamptonshire.

The farm manager Sarah Brown said the animals "were just brilliant, they were so good".

Helen Mirren in a blue dress and white jacket, Pierce Brosnan in a brown suit, shirt and tie, Celia Imrie in a pink dress and Sir Ben Kingsley in a blue suit, white shirt and purple tie. All at looking forward and smiling. — Image caption,
The Thursday Murder Club stars Helen Mirren, Pierce Brosnan, Celia Imrie and Sir Ben Kingsley

The llamas have previously appeared on Blue Peter, Countryfile, Horrible Histories and Midsomer Murders.

This previous work led the farm to be asked to provide animals at Englefield House in Berkshire over two days for the movie.

Ms Brown appears alongside the llamas and Imrie in an early scene in the film, as well as another scene towards the end.

She told Annabel Amos on BBC Radio Northampton: "We had to get there at 05:00 for [the second scene] so it was a really early start but... they wanted to catch the sunrise and it was beautiful."

The production used a drone for the film and she said despite the size of it and the noise the llamas were "absolutely brilliant, they looked up at it and then they just carried on chilling, they were so good".

A group of llamas in a garden. A country house is to the right. A wall and trees are behind them. Above them is a drone. — Image caption,
The llamas had to get comfortable with a drone that was used for part of the filming

Ms Brown said the country house, which doubles as Coopers Chase for the film, was "such beautiful grounds to be filming on".

"We set up a pen under an oak tree and they could just graze and have hay and they were living the dream," she said.

The Netflix film is produced by Steven Spielberg's company Amblin Entertainment and directed by Chris Columbus, who was the director on the early Harry Potter films.