Harlan Coben Knows What He Wants His Next Netflix Show to Be

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Harlan Coben, the bestselling author of books like Tell No One and Run Away, has shared his ideas for a new Netflix series. Coben has been working with Netflix for the past ten years, adapting his novels into shows such as Stay Close and Fool Me Once. With his latest series, Run Away, just released and his first true crime project underway, Coben is now looking ahead to future TV adaptations.

Harlan Coben recently discussed his new true crime documentary series, Harlan Coben’s Final Twist, with Collider. In the show, Coben appears on camera as the host, explaining, “I’ve always been drawn to true crime – it’s a big influence on my work.” He continued by saying:

I’ve been thinking a lot recently about how real life is often more unbelievable than anything you could make up. The stories we’re exploring in Final Twist – if I tried to publish them as a novel or turn them into a TV show – I’d probably get tons of complaints saying they’re too far-fetched. People wouldn’t believe them! But the amazing thing is, they’re all true. It really proves that truth is stranger than fiction, and you just can’t get away with that in a fictional story. That’s what made me want to share them.

Despite having created numerous crime thrillers and explored different types of stories, Coben has a clear vision for his future projects with Netflix. He plans to adapt more of his own novels for the screen, and is also interested in bringing stories by other authors to life as TV series.

There are two novels I’m really hoping to adapt soon. First is ‘Six Years,’ a blend of romance and suspense. The other is ‘The Boy From the Woods.’ Those are the projects I’d be most excited to tackle next.

I’m hesitant to answer the second question because I know a lot of talented novelists, and I don’t want to offend anyone by choosing someone else’s work. However, I’ve always been a big fan of Lawrence Block’s Matthew Scudder books – I read them a lot when I was younger – and I’d love to see those stories revisited or brought back into the spotlight.

What’s Next for Harlan Coben After ‘Run Away’ and ‘Final Twist’?

The author, known for his mystery and thriller novels, has built a strong partnership with Netflix. The streaming service has already adapted several of his books into popular series and films, including Gone for Good, The Stranger, and The Innocent. While Prime Video has also released adaptations like Shelter and Lazarus (the latter co-created by the author, but not based on a pre-existing novel), Netflix continues to be his preferred platform due to the creative control he’s given and the global success of their collaborations.

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Asked about his future plans in television, Coben jokes that he often says he won’t do something, only to end up doing it anyway. He points to his collaboration on a novel with Reese Witherspoon as a perfect example. He also hinted at his upcoming Netflix series, I Will Find You, though a release date hasn’t been announced yet.

I’m focused on continually improving the quality of my work in television. I want to explore telling stories of all lengths, and I’m eager to collaborate with other talented writers, actors, and creators.

I’m also interested in working on adaptations of other novels that haven’t been filmed yet. Right now, we’ve just finished shooting a new Netflix series called ‘I Will Find You,’ starring Sam Worthington, Britt Lower, and Milo Ventimiglia. That’s what audiences will see from us next.

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2026-01-12 04:22