Netflix announce new Harlan Coben thriller The Woods

It'll star Michelle Keegan and Tom Bateman.

Following the huge success of recent adaptations Fool Me Once, Missing You and Run Away, Netflix has confirmed that a brand new eight-part drama, adapted from a Harlan Coben novel, The Woods, is in production.

Twenty years ago, Paul ‘Cope’ Copeland’s sister Camille vanished from a summer camp in the woods, a loss that tore his family apart. Now a top barrister and devoted single father to ten-year-old daughter Cami, Cope, played by Tom Bateman, appears to have rebuilt his life. But when the body of a man turns up, twenty years after he was supposedly murdered alongside Camille, Cope becomes convinced his sister may have also made it out of the woods alive.

Determined to uncover the truth, Cope reunites with his first love, Lucy Silverfield, played by Michelle Keegan. Together, they begin a search for answers, unearthing years of lies, cover-ups, and family secrets that threaten to destroy everything he has built.

Starring alongside Michelle Keegan and Tom Bateman will be Mandeep Dhillon as Loren Muse, James Buckley as Lonnie Berger and Pearce Quigley as Ira Silverfield.

The rest of the cast includes Rade Sherbedgia, Shannon Watson, Pamela Nomvete, Kerry Howard, Roger Barclay, Simon Lowe, Mila Moring, Dean Fagan, Tom Allen, Tracy-Ann Oberman, Charlotte Beaumont, Christopher Harper, Tre Jordan Holmes, Nicola Stephenson, Harry Goodson-Bevan, Joe Dolan, Thea Achillea, Flynn Allen, Amelia Eve, Hannah McIver and more.

Speaking about The Woods, creator Harlan Coben said "The Woods is a haunting and very personal story. It has everything you expect from us -- twisty, turning, gasp-inducing -- but at the core is a story of old love and yearning.  Working with a cast led by Tom Bateman, Michelle Keegan, Mandeep Dhillon, Pearce Quigley, James Buckley, Tom Allen - it's an embarrassment of riches."

To which lead writer Danny Brocklehurst added "It's a great pleasure to be working with Netflix on another twisty emotional thriller. And what a cast we have gathered. Reuniting with Michelle Keegan is a dream and to be working with huge talent like Tom Bateman, Pearce Quigley, Kerry Howard and James Buckley is a joy. We are very fortunate."

Made by Quay Street Productions, part of ITV Studios, The Woods has been created by Harlan Coben, with Danny Brocklehurst as Lead Writer, alongside writers Charlotte Coben, Tom Farrelly and Joe Forrest.

It'll be produced by Will McDonagh, directed by Andy De Emmony (episodes 1-3), Claire Tailyour (episodes 4-6) and Isher Sahota (episodes 7-8) and executive produced by Harlan Coben, Nicola Shindler, Richard Fee, Danny Brocklehurst, and Charlotte Coben. And Casting Director for the series is Orla Maxwell.

On The Woods, Executive Producers for Quay Street Productions, Nicola Shindler and Richard Fee jointly said "We’re incredibly excited to have begun production on the adaptation of this thrilling Harlan Coben book, brought to life by the ever-brilliant Danny Brocklehurst and an extraordinary group of talented actors."

The Woods will be the 14th title from bestselling author Harlan Coben produced for Netflix as Coben continues his work with local screenwriters from around the world to bring his novels to life on screen, so far across four languages.

Those available to stream now on Netflix include Run Away, Missing You, Fool Me Once, Gone For Good, The Stranger, Stay Close, The Innocent, Just One Look, Caught and Safe, with I Will Find You coming soon.

The Woods will air on Netflix