Harlan Coben’s upcoming series, Lazarus, is set to premiere on Prime Video on October 22, 2023. This marks a significant shift, as Coben has been closely associated with Netflix, where several of his works, including Fool Me Once and The Stranger, have found a home. The bestselling author’s previous partnership with the streaming giant stemmed from a five-year adaptation deal, which is drawing to a close in 2025. This transition raises questions about the future of Coben’s projects in the competitive landscape of streaming services.
Despite this change, Coben expressed a positive outlook on collaborating with both platforms. He stated, “Prime Video has been a wonderful partner in this, and Netflix has been a wonderful partner in other shows. We feel extraordinarily blessed to work with both of them.” This sentiment suggests that the author does not view the shift to Prime Video as a departure from Netflix but rather as an opportunity to expand his creative horizons.
Coben’s co-creator, Danny Brocklehurst, highlighted the success of their previous collaboration, Fool Me Once, which exceeded expectations. “Obviously, Fool Me Once was enormous,” he remarked, acknowledging the unpredictability of achieving similar success with every project. Despite the competitive nature of streaming, both Coben and Brocklehurst aim to maintain high standards and aspirations without succumbing to undue pressure.
The move to Prime Video may initially seem challenging, given that it has approximately 250 million fewer subscribers than Netflix. Yet, Coben’s team remains optimistic about the potential for success. They envision a scenario where Netflix continues to host adaptations of Coben’s books while Prime Video takes on original scripts crafted in collaboration with Brocklehurst. This dual approach could allow audiences to enjoy a broader range of Coben’s storytelling.
As the industry evolves, Coben’s ability to navigate partnerships with both streaming giants exemplifies the changing dynamics of content creation. With other projects already in development, viewers can anticipate more adaptations and originals from this prolific author. Coben’s balanced relationship with Prime Video and Netflix may redefine how streaming platforms collaborate with content creators in the future.
Looking ahead, fans of Coben’s work can expect to see more announcements regarding new projects. As both Prime Video and Netflix continue to vie for quality content, the author’s unique storytelling style is likely to flourish across multiple platforms. For now, audiences are encouraged to keep an eye on developments surrounding Lazarus and future collaborations.
