Harlan Coben has yet another exciting thriller series in the works forNetflix, and the author shared more information about the new project, including some key character changes. This new miniseries,I Will Find You, is currently in production and will become the 12th show inHarlan Coben’s impressive Netflix catalog.
The mystery thriller writer’s deal with the streaming service has proven incredibly successful, resulting in thehit seriesMissing YouandFool Me Once. Now,I Will Find Youwill follow David Burroughs (Sam Worthington), a man convicted of killing his son, who escapes prison after learning he may still be alive.
In an interview withThe Hollywood Reporter, Harlan Coben shared that fans of the novel will be excited to hearI Will Find Youwill largely adapt the book faithfully, but there are some slight changes to the characters. This includes Sgt. Adam Mackenzie (Jonathan Tucker), who will play a larger role. Co-creator Robert Hull notes that David (Sam Worthington) and Rachel (Britt Lower) will drive the story together, rather than coming in and out of each other’s lives. Check out Hull’s quote below:
What I like about their relationship, both in the book and the series, is it’s unique because they’re bonded by both individual tragedy as well as a shared tragedy. It’s sort of two people climbing their way back. What I really loved about the book was, unlike a classic fugitive story, which the goal is to clear your name, this really has nothing to do with clearing your name. David doesn’t care if he clears his name; David only cares about finding his son.
So I think the payoff is a lot bigger, and I think in addition to redemption and damaged people healing, the story is really about hope. I think what Harlan did great in the book was take this very dark premise and turn it into a story of hope at the end.
What This Character Change Means For I Will Find You
I Will Find You’s great cast is already pointing the upcoming series in the right direction, and Adam Mackenzie’s character change could make that even better. Coben and Hull’s conversation withTHRpoints towards a greater synergy of the book’s characters within the adaptation.
There will naturally be some changes that have to occur to tell any book’s story on screen, andMissing Youincluded a few changes, so Coben is familiar with this process. Choosing to integrate Adam Mackenzie more, then, is very intentional and has a chance to help flesh the character and his relationship with David Burroughs out more.
However, Coben’s statement aboutI Will Find Youhighlights just how careful the author is being with this particular work. As Hull notes,I Will Find Youis quite unique, and David Burroughs’s story is very singular. In weaving Adam Mackenzie more into the rest of the story, Hull and Coben will have to maintain the book’s balance.
Our Take On I Will Find You’s Character Update
Knowing that Coben and Hull are potentially making Adam Mackenzie more important to the overall story of the upcoming miniseries proves that they are taking character development seriously. Likewise, Hull’s thoughts on David and Rachel Mills show that their dynamic is going to be just as important in the series as it is in the book.
I Will Find Youdoes not currently have a release date.
Their journey together and David’s mission to find his son will undoubtedly still take center stage, but making the supporting characters in a series feel more whole can be a great addition. What’s more,I Will Find Youhas such a great cast that their dynamics will be very fun to watch.
Worthington and Lower as David and Rachel are a promising leading duo, and Jonathan Tucker, Milo Ventimiglia, Logan Browning, and Erin Richards help round out the cast well. Overall, slight character updates are not unexpected in adaptations, and if they’re done rightI Will Find Youcould benefit from them.
