Harlan Coben Netflix Series ‘Fool Me Once’: Trailer, Release Date & Everything We Know

Netflix has announced its 8th on-screen adaptation from Harlan Coben.

Kasey Moore What's on Netflix Avatar
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fool me once first look january 2024 netflix

Picture: Netflix

Fool Me Once will be the next major adaptation from Netflix’s partnership with the prolific author Harlan Coben and is headlined by British star Michelle Keegan. Here’s everything you need to know about Fool Me Once, scheduled to be one of the first arrivals in 2024.

The eight-part thriller (with each episode being around 60 minutes long) will adapt the 2016 novel. Unlike in the book, however, this adaptation will occur in the United Kingdom instead of the United States.

Here’s everything you need to know about the new series kicking off with the brand-new trailer:


When is Fool Me Once releasing on Netflix?

Let’s begin with the release date. In November 2023, Netflix UK announced that Fool Me Once would be arriving globally on Netflix on January 1, 2024. That means you’ll be able to bring in the New Year with a Harlen Coben thriller. Perfection.

poster for fool me once netflix january 2024

Poster and release date for Fool Me Once on Netflix


Who’s behind Fool Me Once on Netflix?

As you may know, Netflix has been adapting Harlan Coben’s works via a creative partnership since 2018 with titles including The Stranger, Stay Close, and Safe.

Other confirmed upcoming Coben projects for Netflix include Myron Bolitar, Six Years, and Run Away.

Harlan Coben said in the announcement of Fool Me Once:

“I’m thrilled and honoured to once again be collaborating with my uber-talented partners Danny, Nicola and Richard. ‘Fool Me Once’ will be our fourth Netflix series [following ‘Safe,’ ‘The Stranger’ and ‘Stay Close’] together, and man, it never gets old! ‘Fool Me Once’ is a pulse-pounder — a shocking story of how secrets and deceit have the power to bring people together while simultaneously tearing them apart. I can’t wait to see how this dream cast brings these characters to life.”

Also working on the project includes Danny Brocklehurst (Brassic, Come Home) as the lead writer, assisted by Charlotte Coben, Yemi Oyefuwa, Nina Metivier, and Tom Farrelly.

Directing on the series will be done by David Moore (Outlander) and Nimer Rashed.

Nicola Shindler and Jessica Taylor serve as producers, with Quay Street Productions serving as the production company.


What’s Netflix’s Fool Me Once about?

fool me once book cover

Book cover for Fool Me Once by Harlan Coben

Per Netflix, here’s what you can expect from the new series:

The series follows Maya Stern who is trying to come to terms with the brutal murder of her husband, Joe. But when Maya installs a nanny-cam to keep an eye on her young daughter, she is shocked to see a man she recognises in her house. Her husband, who she thought was dead…

Detective Sergeant Sami Kierce leads the homicide investigation into Joe’s death while grappling with secrets of his own. Meanwhile, Maya’s niece and nephew, Abby and Daniel, are trying to find the truth about their mother’s murder, several months earlier. Are the two cases connected? Fool Me Once follows these characters on a thrilling hunt for the truth that will reveal shocking secrets and change their lives forever. Joanna Lumley is Judith Burkett, Joe’s protective mother.”

First Look Images of Fool Me Once

Netflix recently dropped some exciting first-look images for the series.

fool me once season 1 netflix first look richard armitage

Richard Armitage as Joe Burkett – Netflix

fool me once season 1 netflix first look michelle keegan

Michelle Keegan as Maya Stern – Netflix

fool me once season 1 netflix first look adeel akhtar

Adeel Akhtar as Detective Sergeant Sami Kierce

fool me once season 1 netflix first look joanna lumley

Joanna Lumley as Judith Burkett – Netflix


Who’s starring in Fool Me Once on Netflix?

cast grid for fool me once netflix

Pictures courtesy of Netflix

Michelle Keegan, Adeel Akhtar, Richard Armitage, and Joanna Lumley lead the cast for Netflix’s new limited thriller series.

The Sun first reported on February 18th that Keegan signed a “six-figure deal” to star in the new series.

Here’s the entire preliminary cast for Fool Me Once:

  • Michelle Keegan (Brassic, Our Girl) will play Maya Stern
  • Adeel Akhtar (Sweet Tooth, Ali & Ava) will play Detective Sergeant Sami Kierce
  • Richard Armitage (Stay Close, The Stranger) will play Joe Burkett
  • Joanna Lumley (Absolutely Fabulous, Finding Alice) will play Judith Burkett
  • Emmett J.Scanlan (Kin, Peaky Blinders) will play Shane Tessier
  • Dino Fetscher (Years and Years, Foundation) will play Marty McGreggor

What’s on Netflix has also confirmed the following actors will also appear throughout:

  • Marcus Garvey (Hijack, Disclaimer) will play Eddie Walker
  • Natalie Anderson (Boiling Point, Happy Valley) will play Claire Walker
  • Natalia Kostrzewa (Calling Home) as Izabella Godek
  • Adelle Leonce (Mammals, A Discovery of Witches) as Eva
  • James Northcote (The Last Kingdom)

When and where did filming take place for Fool Me Once?

Filming on the project took roughly six months in total, with the majority of filming in the United Kingdom, specifically in Manchester. Filming was officially underway in February 2023.

The production also had a small stint of filming take place in the Southern Spanish region of Andalucía.

Michelle Keegan confirmed that filming had wrapped on the project on July 30th in a heartfelt post on Instagram:

“That’s a wrap on Fool Me Once, and a final goodbye to Maya.

Thank you to all the cast, crew & production team who made the past 6 months extra special… this was a once in a lifetime job for me and I never took it for granted, not once.

What a ride it’s been.
Cant WAIT for you all to see it.”

behind the scenes on fool me once netflix

Picture: Michelle Keegan / Instagram

Directing on the new series are David Moore and Nimer Rashed.


Will there be a season 2 of Fool Me Once?

No.

Like all other Harlen Coben adaptations on Netflix – this will be a limited series.


 

Note: This article was first published on February 20th, 2023. It has been updated over time to reflect new information. It was last updated on December 7th, 2023.

Are you looking forward to this new Harlan Coben adaptation coming soon to Netflix? Let us know in the comments below.

Written by

Founder of What's on Netflix and based in Norwich in the United Kingdom, Kasey has been tracking the comings and goings of the Netflix library for a decade having started the site in 2013. Kasey maintains the what's new library, keeps the coming soon lists up-to-date and writes about new and upcoming Netflix movies, series and games.

 Poster

Official Netflix Synopsis: "When ex-soldier Maya sees her murdered husband on a secret nanny cam, she uncovers a deadly conspiracy that stretches deep into the past."


Rating: TV-MA
Language: English
Genre: Crime, Drama, Mystery
Cast: Richard Armitage, Michelle Keegan, Adeel Akhtar
Season Additions:
  • - Limited Series was added to Netflix on January 1st, 2024
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