Peaky Blinders star leads gripping new Harlan Coben | UK News

Prime Video is serving up what guarantees to be a ‘mind bending’ psychological thriller from the sensible thoughts of acclaimed crime creator Harlan Coben. The best-selling author, whose books have also impressed Netflix thrillers Fool Me Once and Stay Close, is back with a new restricted sequence.

The show, which has a working title of Lazarus, packs a star-studded forged, including Sam Claflin, who performed Oswald Mosley in Peaky Blinders and Finnick Odair in The Hunger Games fame. Legendary British actor Bill Nighy and eliminateing Eve’s Alexandra Roach are also set to star in the sequence, which is based on an authentic story concept by Coben and BAFTA-winner Danny Brocklehurst.

The synopsis from Prime Video reads: “Lazarus follows a man who returns home after his father’s suicide and begins to have disturbing experiences that can’t be explained.

“He quickly becomes entangled in a series of cold-case murders as he grapples with the mystery of his father’s death and his sister’s murder 25 years ago.”

In the show Claflin, who will also serve as government producer, performs protagonist Laz, “a well-respected forensic psychologist who has spent his whole life running from the pain of his past.”

The description continues: “It is only now when he returns home that he is forced to finally face up to it.”

Meanwhile, Nighy performs Laz’s father, a psychologist called Doctor Lazarus. The father of three is “a beloved figure within his community, he shares his son’s charm, dry humor, and charisma.

“In death, he wants his son to understand that they are more similar than Laz thinks.”

Roach performs Laz’s sister Jenna, who has “buried herself in a world of spiritual practice” after their sister’s homicide.

“Now, when her brother returns home and starts experiencing unexplained phenomena, she is forced to confront secrets from her own past,” the outline provides.

The thriller will likely be produced by Quay Street Productions and Amazon MGM Studios in affiliation with Final Twist Productions, airing solely on Prime Video.

Speaking to Radio Times about the new Project, Coben said: “I thought, ‘I could write this as a novel, but I’m seeing it as a TV series.’ It’s a little more of a ghost story, very visual.”

The sequence has also been described as “propulsive mystery thriller” with a “mind-bending” plot.

The show also seems to be based on the UK, as Caflin was beforehand noticed capturing scenes for it in the centre of Manchester.

Rola Bauer, head of Pan-English scripted SVOD TV at Amazon MGM Studios, said: “We were instantly drawn to Lazarus, from the brilliant minds of Harlan and Danny, fitting perfectly into our Pan-English strategy. I am confident that our global Prime Video customers will embrace it too.

“Combining Director Wayne Yip’s vision with Sam, Bill, and Alexandra’s amazing talent, along with Nicola, Richard, and Quay Street as our award-winning production team, is a dream scenario.”

Heather Curtis, current sequence government Pan-English scripted SVOD TV at Amazon MGM Studios, added: “Lazarus is a gripping series that captures your attention from the very beginning.

“We’re thrilled to unite with Harlan, Danny, Quay Street, and the all-star cast of Sam Claflin, Bill Nighy, and Alexandra Roach to tell this compelling story for our global Prime Video customers.”

“Harlan and Danny have created another wonderfully compelling story but this time with an eerie twist,” said Richard Fee and Nicola Shindler, government producers for Quay Street Productions.

“Lazarus has all the ingredients of a propulsive mystery thriller with an extra dose of atmosphere and psychological horror that makes it particularly gripping.”

While an official release date has not yet been announced, Lazarus is anticipated to arrive on Prime Video this Autumn.