It91Ƶs Netflix91Ƶs resolution every new year to give viewers a headscratcher in January.
Since 2020, the streamer has released a U.K. miniseries based on thriller book by Harlan Coben over the holidays. It seems to have paid off: 91ƵFool Me Once,91Ƶ starring Michelle Keegan, Adeel Akhtar and Joanna Lumley, launched this past January and became what Netflix says was one of their most watched shows of the year, amassing 108 million views.
202591Ƶs seasonal suspense series is 91ƵMissing You,91Ƶ based on Coben91Ƶs 2014 New York Times bestseller. It stars Rosalind Eleazar (91ƵSlow Horses91Ƶ) as Detective Inspector Kat Donovan, a police officer who specializes in finding missing people 91Ƶ apart from the fiance that vanished 11 years earlier.
91ƵThey know Jan. 1 is the sweet spot for them,91Ƶ says actor Richard Armitage, who has appeared in each winter Coben adaptation, which relocates the stories from the books91Ƶ America to the north of England. 91ƵPeople have ownership over the show now, so like, 91ƵI want my Harlan Coben show on New Year91Ƶs Day. Give me my Harlan Coben fix.91Ƶ91Ƶ
91ƵIt91Ƶs perfect timing for the release, to be honest,91Ƶ says co-star Ashley Walters. 91ƵMost people are going to be hung over or, you know, just not have anything to do with the day.91Ƶ
The show opens with the shock of Donovan91Ƶs ex-fiance (Walters) popping up on a dating app, over a decade after she came home one day to find him gone.
91ƵI91Ƶve ghosted people before,91Ƶ laughs Armitage. 91ƵJust people you don91Ƶt want to talk to anymore. Not digitally though.91Ƶ
Another star, Jessica Plummer, isn91Ƶt a fan of those who disappear without saying goodbye, though.
91ƵI91Ƶd just feel too guilty,91Ƶ she admits, calling it 91Ƶcowardly and lazy 91Ƶ sorry Richard!91Ƶ
Eleazar promises twists and turns along the way, adding that the actors weren91Ƶt initially given the final two scripts and had to turn to the book to find out what happens.
Coben 91Ƶreally is a genius at taking you up the wrong track,91Ƶ says Eleazar. 91ƵYou91Ƶre so sure that this time you91Ƶve got it right and it91Ƶs this person or this thing, but you are inevitably always wrong.91Ƶ
91ƵI would love to know, actually, how he starts a book, you know? Does it start with an idea or does he think of the most inconceivable idea and go, 91ƵThat91Ƶs how it91Ƶs going to end91Ƶ?91Ƶ she adds.
Armitage agrees that 91ƵMissing You91Ƶ does justice to the 91Ƶhair-raising91Ƶ shock ending of the book; 91ƵIt91Ƶs like the rug is pulled away at the last minute.91Ƶ
And while audiences at home can binge-watch the whole five-part series as 2025 is still finding its feet, the cast will be busy with a variety of pastimes.
Lenny Henry, who portrays Kat91Ƶs father, jokes that he usually wakes up to a new year surrounded by roast potatoes, while wearing pajamas.
Armitage likes to be outside and start fresh by skiing down a mountain, while Eleazar has plans to celebrate in style: She and a group of friends have a tradition where they rent a castle and dress up in themed costumes.
Past New Year91Ƶs Eve parties have included donning 18th century garb in France and last year91Ƶs Versace-themed fete.
91ƵI will be celebrating and really hoping that everyone loves this show on the 1st,91Ƶ she says.
Hilary Fox, The Associated Press