Acclaimed thriller writer Harlan Coben has confessed to feeling significant apprehension as his most beloved literary creation edges closer to the television screen.
The Heart of the Matter: Why Myron is Different
While numerous standalone novels by Coben, such as Fool Me Once, Lazarus, and Stay Close, have become successful UK television dramas, the author reveals a unique vulnerability regarding his series character, Myron Bolitar. In a candid discussion on the popular Table Manners podcast hosted by Jessie and Lennie Ware, Coben explained the profound personal connection he feels to this particular protagonist.
"He's harder for me to let go of than the standalones," Coben stated. "If you don't like Michelle Keegan in Fool Me Once, it's one book. If you don't love Jimmy Nesbitt coming out in Run Away, it's one book, one character. I've only written him once. But Myron is my heart, and I'm very nervous about that series."
From Page to Screen: The Netflix Deal
The journey to adapt the 11-book Myron Bolitar series has been a lengthy one. According to industry reports from Deadline, Netflix has been developing the project since 2022. This adaptation was incorporated into a broader deal; initially struck in 2018, the agreement granted Netflix access to 14 of Coben's titles, with the Bolitar series and his 2021 novella Win added later.
The planned series will be a US-based production and is being shepherded by Emmy-winning writer David E. Kelly, known for his work on Netflix's The Lincoln Lawyer. This move signals a serious commitment to translating the complex, long-running character arc for a global audience.
Who is Myron Bolitar?
For the uninitiated, Myron Bolitar is a former basketball prodigy whose career was cut short by injury. He reinvents himself as a sports agent but consistently finds himself drawn into dark mysteries surrounding his clients and friends, effectively becoming an unconventional detective. The series, which boasts a passionate fanbase including podcast host Lennie Ware who admits she's "in love with him", follows Myron from his late twenties into his fifties.
Coben has acknowledged that the character contains elements of autobiographical "wish fulfilment". Like Myron, Coben played basketball in his youth, though he is quick to note that his fictional counterpart is "better, and also funnier and smarter".
When pressed by Jessie Ware on the podcast about his ideal casting, Coben highlighted a central challenge of the adaptation, admitting, "That's the problem, I don't have a dream Myron."
As viewers await the New Year's Day premiere of Coben's latest adaptation, Run Away, the author's heartfelt admission adds a layer of poignant anticipation for what many consider his definitive work. The success of this project will depend on capturing not just the intricate plots of the books, but the very essence of a character who has lived in the author's—and his readers'—imaginations for decades.
