Netflix is adapting Harlan Coben’s The Woods as a limited series, the streaming television service announced.
Coben’s novel, published in 2007 by Dutton, follows Paul Copeland, a prosecutor haunted by the disappearance of his sister, Camille, 20 years prior. When the body of a man who disappeared along with Camille is discovered, Paul starts to believe his sister could still be alive. A critic for Kirkus wrote of the book, “All the surprises you’d expect from Coben, but a lot fewer thrills.”
The series adaptation of the novel moves the setting from New Jersey to England. It will be written by Danny Brocklehurst, who penned the Netflix series adaptation of Coben’s Fool Me Once, and directed by Andy De Emmony (The Feud) and Claire Tailyour (Phoenix Rise).
Tom Bateman (Murder on the Orient Express) will play Paul Copeland in the series. Other cast members include Michelle Keegan (Coronation Street), Mandeep Dhillon (CSI: Vegas), and Pearce Quigley (The Full Monty).
“Harlan Coben’s shows are always such gripping events, so the opportunity to be part of his world is really exciting,” Bateman said. “The worlds are so rich and interesting to play as an actor because they deal with ghosts and secrets, and they pull the characters into the most unexpected places.”
The Woods was previously adapted by Netflix as a Polish-language series. Netflix and Coben have an extensive partnership, and the service is developing series based on several of his novels, including Run Away, The Stranger, and Missing You.
Michael Schaub is a contributing writer.
