Harlan Coben’s 2015 crime novel, The Stranger, is getting a series go at Netflix with actor Richard Armitage (The Hobbit, Berlin Station, Sundance entry The Lodge) set to star. Red Production Company, the same team behind the Michael C. Hall-led crime drama, Safe, is pushing the eight-episode project with Safe series writer Danny Brocklehurst penning the series.
Armitage stars as Adam Price in the thriller, which sees a secret destroys his perfect life and sends him on a collision course with a deadly conspiracy. Price has a good life, two wonderful sons, and a watertight marriage, until one night a stranger sits next to him in a bar and tells him a devastating secret about his wife, Corinne. Soon Adam finds himself tangled in something far darker than even Corinne’s deception, and realizes that if he doesn’t make exactly the right moves, the conspiracy he’s stumbled into will not only ruin lives—it will end them.
Coben and Brocklehurst will also exec produce with Red’s Nicola Shindler and Richard Fee. Madonna Baptiste will produce the series as production rolls in March.
Coben said, “The Stranger was one of my most challenging novels — and definitely the most twisted. When I wrote it, I never imagined that I’d be part of a dream team of extraordinary talent bringing it to life. I can’t wait to reunite with Danny, Nicola, and Netflix on this remarkable project.”
Shindler said, “I’m really excited to once again work with Harlan, Danny and Netflix on The Stranger. There is a real appetite for contained dramas, and Harlan is an absolute master of keeping the audience guessing and gripped to the edge of their seats with his incredible storytelling. The Stranger is another really intriguing premise, and with this amazing cast to bring these complex characters to life, audiences are in for a real treat.”
Armitage added, “I could barely contain my excitement reading Harlan Coben’s The Stranger; a nail biting thriller with a huge beating heart and a dash of social commentary for extra bite. I’m thrilled to be returning to work with Nicola Schindler and the brilliant creative team she has assembled.”
Larry Tanz, Vice President of Content Acquisition, Netflix said, “We’re proud to bring Harlan’s riveting rollercoaster of a novel to the screen with this expert team of storytellers. With Harlan, Danny and Red behind the camera and Richard in front of it, Netflix members around the world will be captivated by this gripping mystery.”
(Deadline)