Preview: James Nesbitt Leads Star-Studded Cast in Run Away, Netflix’s Next Harlan Coben Thriller

NetflixNews

20 Oct

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Netflix is kicking off 2026 with a gripping new drama from the mind of bestselling author Harlan Coben. Run Away, the latest in Coben’s long-running partnership with the streamer, will debut globally on 1 January 2026.

Following the huge success of Missing You in 2025, the new eight-part series reunites Coben with Quay Street Productions, part of ITV Studios, and writer Danny Brocklehurst (Fool Me Once, Brassic). The series features a powerhouse cast led by James Nesbitt, Ruth Jones, Minnie Driver, and Alfred Enoch, alongside Lucian Msamati, Tracy-Ann Oberman, Annette Badland, and Jon Pointing.

A Family Torn Apart

Nesbitt stars as Simon Greene, a man whose seemingly perfect life—loving family, successful career, beautiful home—crumbles when his eldest daughter, Paige, disappears. When Simon finally finds her, lost and struggling with addiction, their reunion takes a violent turn that sends him spiralling into a dark and dangerous search through the city’s criminal underworld. What he uncovers threatens to destroy what’s left of his family forever.

In true Coben fashion, Run Away relocates the original US-set novel to the UK, with filming taking place across Manchester and the North West of England.

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Behind the Scenes

The series is written by Danny Brocklehurst, who also serves as executive producer alongside Harlan Coben, Nicola Shindler, Richard Fee, and Nimer Rashed. Guy Hescott acts as series producer, with Will McDonagh as producer and Charlotte Coben as associate producer.

Directing duties are shared between Nimer Rashed (Without Sin) and Isher Sahota (Grace). Casting is by Orla Maxwell.

The Ensemble

Alongside the leading quartet, the cast includes:

Lucian Msamati as Cornelius Faber
Jon Pointing as Ash
Ellie de Lange as Paige Greene
Adrian Greensmith as Sam Greene
Ellie Henry as Anya Greene
Tracy-Ann Oberman as Jessica Kinberg
Annette Badland as Lou
Ingrid Oliver, Maeve Courtier-Lilley, Finty Williams, Joe McGann, and Amy Gledhill in supporting roles.

The Harlan Coben Universe Grows

Run Away marks the 13th Netflix adaptation from Coben, whose thrillers have captivated audiences across four languages. Previous hits include Fool Me Once, The Stranger, Stay Close, Gone for Good, The Woods, and Missing You, which became one of Netflix’s top 10 most-watched English-language shows of all time with more than 94 million views since its 2024 debut.

Upcoming Coben adaptations for Netflix include Caught, Just One Look, and I Will Find You.

Run Away
Premieres: 1 January 2026
Episodes: 8 × 60 mins
Production Company: Quay Street Productions (Part of ITV Studios)
Creator: Harlan Coben
Lead Writer: Danny Brocklehurst