Richard Armitage says Missing You feels different to other Harlan Coben series

by

As an ardent movie buff with decades of cinematic experiences under my belt, I must say that Richard Armitage’s journey through the Harlan Coben universe has been nothing short of captivating. Each role he takes on, from The Stranger to Stay Close and now Missing You, is a testament to his versatility as an actor.

It’s clear that Richard Armitage has a knack for understanding the unique qualities of a Harlan Coben series, as demonstrated by his roles in The Stranger, Stay Close, Fool Me Once, and most recently, Missing You.

In the forthcoming series adaptation, Armitage will portray a character different from those he’s played before in the Coben universe – specifically, he’ll take on the part of Detective Chief Inspector (DCI) Ellis Stagger.

Besides taking on his initial detective character, Armitage believes that “Missing You” carries a distinct feel compared to other Coben productions he has worked on in the past.

In an interview prior to the series launch, Armitage mentioned that the format has been tweaked a bit. Instead of multiple writers, this time it’s five episodes penned by a single writer, Victoria Asare-Archer, who is incredibly talented. Just like we had on Red Eye.

One explanation for it feeling unique is that unlike other instances, there’s no complex backstory or intertwined plotline involving another character here.

As a passionate cinephile, I’ve found myself captivated by a unique narrative structure in this film. Instead of multiple characters juggling separate storylines, we have just one remarkable protagonist, Kat, who single-handedly navigates two distinct plot threads. This singular focus propels the story at an exhilarating pace, making the narrative feel more streamlined and intense.

Armitage stated, “Kat is caught in the midst of these narratives unfolding. It’s an incredibly challenging role since it demands constant reaction to fresh data. Yet, Rosalind manages it with such grace.

The new Harlan Coben series centres on Detective Kat Donovan (Rosalind Eleazar), who suddenly comes across her ex-fiancé Josh (Ashley Walters) on a dating app, 11 years after he disappeared randomly one day.

According to the show summary, Josh’s return will prompt her to delve once more into the enigma of her father’s murder and unearth hidden truths about her past that have been buried for some time.

In football, if a player scores four goals, it’s often referred to as a ‘hat-trick’ for scoring three goals in a row, but when you score four, it can also be called a ‘poker’ or a ‘haul.’ A hat-trick has three goals, so four is considered either a haul or a poker.

“What keeps me coming back is I’m always very flattered and honoured when I’m asked back.”

Additionally discussing his character Stagger, Armitage once mentioned, “I portray someone who’s keeping a powerful secret. If this secret were to be exposed, it could bring ruin to many lives. So, carrying this heavy responsibility is quite intriguing.

As well as Armitage, the cast of Missing You is full of familiar faces.

In this production, Rosalind Eleazar from the show “Slow Horses” takes the lead role. Additionally, Ashley Walters, known for “Top Boy”, is also featured, along with Jessica Plummer, a familiar face from “EastEnders”. The cast also includes James Nesbitt from “Suspect”, Lenny Henry of “Rings of Power”, and Steve Pemberton, who has appeared in “Inside No. 9”.

Read More

2024-12-10 16:04