Harlan Coben's Run Away on Netflix: Inside 'twisty thriller' about an 'argument that escalates into shocking violence'
There are several more Harlan Coben adaptations planned, too
Harlan Coben’s Run Away is the latest of his books to get the Netflix treatment – and the upcoming adaptation will feature some familiar faces in the cast.
The streaming channel has confirmed that actor James Nesbitt will be central to the cast, making it his third appearance in a Coben adaptation.
So who else is in the cast of Harlan Coben’s Run Away on Netflix, what’s the plot, and when is the expected start date? Here’s everything we know so far…
What is the next Harlan Coben adaptation on Netflix?
Harlan Coben and Netflix go together like cheese and wine, and the latest book adaptation is coming soon.
The next series will be a dramatisation of the novel Run Away. Missing You launched on Netflix on New Year’s Day 2025 and, once again, proved a huge hit.
After its success, the streaming service has confirmed that the next Harlan Coben is coming soon – and the cast are already on board.
What’s the plot of Run Away?
Like all Harlan Coben books, and subsequent TV adaptations, Run Away is a fast-paced thriller with more twists and turns that a snake on acid. Danny Brocklehurst has adapted the series for TV.
In the upcoming murder mystery, we meet Simon who had the perfect life, including a loving wife and kids, great job, and beautiful home. But then his eldest daughter Paige ran away and everything fell apart..
The synopsis from Netflix says: “So now when he finds her, vulnerable and strung out on drugs in a city park, he finally has the chance to bring his little girl home. But it turns out she’s not alone, and an argument escalates into shocking violence. In the aftermath, Simon loses his daughter all over again, and his search to find her will take him into a dangerous underworld, revealing deep secrets that could tear his family apart forever.”
Who’s in the cast?
Netflix’s Harlan Coben adaptations are typically strewn with buckets of famous faces, and Run Away is no exception.
James Nesbitt, Ruth Jones and Minnie Driver have all been announced in the cast of the upcoming thriller.
For James, it will mark his third collaboration with the dream team that is Coben and Netflx. He previously played DS Michael Broome in 2021’s Stay Close, and career criminal Dominic Calligan in Missing You. Like Richard Armitage before him, Nesbitt is fast becoming a familiar face in the thrillers. He plays the leading role of Simon in Run Away.
Although, there’s no sign – so far – of Richard being in Run Away. He’s been in four so far, including Missing You, Fool Me Once, Stay Close, and The Stranger.
Run Away will also star Gavin & Stacey actor Ruth Jones, and Good Will Hunting actress Minnie Driver.
Meanwhile, other stars set to appear include The Couple Next Door actor Alfred Enoch, Conclave’s Lucian Msamati, Big Boys’ Jon Pointing, and Hollyoaks’ Ellie Henry.
Wolf Hall actress Ellie de Lange will play Simon’s daughter, while Adrian Greensmith will appear in his second Harlan Coben adaptation, having previously starred in Shelter.
EastEnders’ Tracy-Ann Oberman, Hollyoaks’ Joe McGann, and Midsomer Murders’ Annette Badland will also star. Sweetpea’s Ingrid Oliver, The Red King’s Maeve Courtier-Lilley, The A List’s Finty Williams, and Big Mood’s Amy Gledhill complete the cast.
Who plays who in Run Away on Netflix?
James Nesbitt plays Simon Greene.
Minnie Driver is Simon’s wife Ingrid Greene.
Ruth Jones portrays Elena Ravenscroft.
Alfred Enoch stars as Isaac Fagbenle.
Lucian Msamati plays Cornelius Faber.
Jon Pointing is Ash.
Ellie de Lange portrays Paige Greene.
Adrian Greensmith stars as Sam Greene.
Ellie Henry plays Anya Greene.
Tracy-Ann Oberman portrays Jessica Kinberg.
Annette Badland is Lou.
Ingrid Oliver stars as Yvonne.
Maeve Courtier-Lilley plays Dee Dee.
Finty Williams portrays Enid Corval.
Joe McGann is Wiley Corval.
Amy Gledhill stars as Ruby Todd.
How many episodes is Run Away on Netflix?
Harlan Coben’s next adaptation will be eight episodes of an hour long. This follows the same pattern as previous adaptations Safe, Stay Close, The Stranger, and Fool Me Once.
Only 2025’s Missing You was shorter at only five episodes.
Where is it filmed?
Like previous adaptations, Run Away will relocate the story from the US to the UK. Harlan Coben is an American author and sets his books in his home country.
Filming for Run Away took place in and around Manchester and the North West of England in 2025.
When will the next Harlan Coben adaptation Run Away be released?
Netflix has now confirmed that Run Away will land on the streaming channel on New Year’s Day 2026.
New Harlan Coben series usually arrive on Netflix at the beginning of each year – often on New Year’s Day. It will land as a boxset.
What Harlan Coben series are currently on Netflix?
Netflix has greenlit several new Harlan Coben adaptations, including I Will Find You. The new series is based on the author’s bestselling 2023 novel of the same name. The story centres on a father, in prison and serving a life sentence for the murder of his son.
However, the dad has always maintained his innocence… And when new evidence surfaces suggesting his son may still be alive, he hatches a plan to break out of prison to find answers.
Harlan Coben’s 2017 novel Caught is also getting a Netflix adaptation, as is the 2014 bestseller Just One Look.
If you can’t wait, there are several Coben series and films currently available to stream on Netflix. These include Missing You, Stay Close, The Stranger, The Innocent, Safe, Gone for Good, Hold Tight, Fool Me Once, and The Woods. There’s also twisty thriller Lazarus which arrived on Prime Video in October 2025.
Run Away is one of 13 titles from bestselling author Harlan Coben produced for Netflix. Coben continues his work with local screenwriters from around the world to bring his novels to life on screen, so far across four languages.
Is there a trailer?
The trailer for Harlan Coben’s Run Away has now landed (see below).
In the trailer we get a first look at Ruth Jones as a dogged PI who begins to suspect James Nesbitt’s character Simon is capable of murder.
When his beloved daughter goes missing, Simon eventually finds her – but she’s a shadow of her former self. For which, Simon blames her “controlling boyfriend”. And when he turns up dead… Well, there’s an obvious suspect!
Is it based on a book?
Harlan Coben’s novel Run Away was first published in 2019, and has been described as a “twisty thriller”. So far, so Coben.
The plot synopsis for the bestselling book reads: “Your daughters if missing. You’ll risk anything to find her. And then you see her, frightened and clearly in trouble. You approach her, beg her to come home. But she runs…
“You follow her into a dark, dangerous world where no-one is safe and murder is commonplace. Now it’s your life on the line.”
Fellow author Peter James said about the book: “Run Away confirms one of the world’s finest thriller writers is at the very top of his game.”
Lee Childs added: “Coben never, ever lets you down – but this one is really special.”
Read more: Harlan Coben series: Lazarus creator’s English-language mysteries from Safe to Missing You
