As a seasoned journalist with decades of experience under my belt, I’ve had the privilege of interviewing countless celebrities, artists, and public figures. Yet, there’s something uniquely captivating about the cast of “Missing You.” Their passion for their craft, their camaraderie, and their unwavering respect for Harlan Coben‘s work made this press conference an absolute delight.
Transform a Harlan Coben novel’s backdrop from America to Britain, have Nicola Shindler’s Quay Street Productions, an affiliate of ITV Studios, develop it, attract a star-studded roster of British actors led by Richard Armitage, and debut it on Netflix on the first day of the New Year.
The secret to their continued triumph – as demonstrated by the blockbuster series “Fool Me Once” from last year, and now by the forthcoming “Missing You” – is this proven strategy they’ve been using.
Starting on New Year’s Day, the series “Missing You” introduces Rosalind Eleazar (from “Slow Horses”) as Kat Donovan, a detective who deals with Missing Persons cases. 11 years ago, her fiancé Josh went missing, and now she finds his face on a dating app profile, which stirs up old memories and makes her question the circumstances surrounding the murder of her father, Lenny Henry. Armitage takes on the role of Kat’s boss, while Jessica Plummer plays one of her closest friends. Steve Pemberton, Mary Malone, Lisa Faulkner, and James Nesbitt are among the other cast members. Victoria Asare-Archer is responsible for adapting the novel for the screen.
This Coben adaptation deviates somewhat in certain aspects. Firstly, it consists of merely five episodes rather than the usual number. Moreover, it delves deeper into a romantic narrative, which might be unexpected for fans accustomed to other Coben series.
Coben mentioned that this series consists of only five episodes, which is fewer than the usual eight we’ve produced. He explained that this results in a more compact narrative. Furthermore, he shared his feelings about the ending, stating, ‘When I watched episode five, I found myself shedding tears.’ The author also expressed his anticipation for this series to be our most emotionally impactful yet, remarking, ‘I believe this will be our most emotional series since Fool Me Once,’ hinting at a few teary eyes at the conclusion.
The series showcases typical Coben plot twists and turns, yet the author emphasizes that “it’s not just a mystery”; instead, it’s a heartfelt love story between Kat and Josh, with a strong focus on familial relationships. In essence, this narrative revolves around their love and family ties.
In her writing, Asare-Archer aimed to portray the love story and relationships authentically. She also praised the acting cast, stating they were a stellar lineup of well-known talents. “Just gaze at this cast,” Asare-Archer remarked from her panel seat, gesturing expansively. “It’s almost like a recital of Black achievement.” At that moment, Henry playfully indicated Armitage, causing amusement among the audience.
Afterward, the screenwriter emphasized, “This series offers us an opportunity to pen exceptional tales for some outstanding Black performers currently in the industry, and we’re committed to that representation throughout. Notably, we have two exceptional directors of color, and this diversity extends to sound, makeup, costumes, and every aspect of production.
Speaking as a devoted admirer, when asked about the mood she aimed to convey in transforming the novel for Netflix, Asare-Archer expressed: “My primary goal with this project was to encapsulate the love. I’m an avid reader of romance and a sucker for a good love story. My aim was to make that love story feel grand, intense, and deeply emotional, while also incorporating the darker elements beneath.
Absolutely, shifting the location of his books from the United States to the U.K. for a series necessitates some adjustments. As Harlan Coben explained, “It’s often the guns” that pose challenges. “In the U.S., there are too many guns,” he noted. “So we use knives and similar items instead. That’s one of the first things we need to alter.” However, according to him, the familial relationships and dynamics he portrays in his novels are “universal” – they resonate across cultures.
One reason Coben enjoys working in Britain is that he gets to collaborate with exceptional individuals like Nicola Shindler, Richard Fee, and Victoria. He’s found a highly skilled and warm environment here, which allows us to consistently attract top talent, such as Lennie Henry, who was incredibly supportive and enthusiastic about the project. While I’m currently producing a show in America, there’s something special about the close-knit creative community we have here. We’re all deeply invested in storytelling, almost obsessively so, and when Victoria joined our team on Stay Close, we recognized her as a kindred spirit. Her ideas for the story were inspiring, and I was excited to see how she would guide its development.
Eleazar and Asare-Archer were fond of delving into the intricacies of women’s relationships and family dynamics. “I adore all my aunts,” Eleazar expressed. “I have many aunts, and I particularly cherish those heartwarming moments.
She mentioned that she found it enjoyable to act alongside Armitage, particularly his character Stagger, who is superior to her character Eleazar’s in the story. The actress described Stagger as being like a father figure for her character Kat. “Rich and I have previously collaborated,” she added. “We were romantic leads in our last project.” Following this statement, there was laughter from the audience, and Eleazar joked, “In this instance, he’s more of a father figure. Perhaps we could play half-siblings next time.
Exploring various aspects of her relationships was truly enjoyable for me,” the star stated as they wrapped up, adding that they “really enjoy performing stunts.
He grew to sense the dynamics between Kat, Josh, and Walters by simply spending a lot of time together and having in-depth discussions off-camera, often using video calls like Zoom or FaceTime. This way, he and Roz (who plays Kat) were able to align their understanding about where these relationships stood.
Eleazar mentioned that her method of acting enables her to experience emotions distinct from those of her characters. “A significant part of an actor’s responsibility,” she explained, “is to avoid judging their character’s choices.” However, she added that the feelings involved can often be paradoxical, which makes this role especially complex and engaging.
In conversation, Armitage shared that ‘Missing You’ is his fourth storyline in the Coben series. Reflecting on his debut, ‘The Stranger’, he mentioned, “I eagerly asked the team to consider a second season,” he said. “Was there a spin-off? However, they don’t typically produce spin-offs – at least not then.
He drew laughs when he shared what happened next. “I was asked to do another one, which was Stay Close. I was like: ‘I’ll read the script and then make a decision.’ By number four, I’m just like, ‘Yeah!’ Because the thing about Harlan’s writing and the books is that he just never, ever lets you down. Every episode has a [cliffhanger] ending and a page-turning script. You can’t stop watching them, and the books are the same.”
Regarding “Missing You,” Armitage commented: “This is an exceptional adaptation of the novel. It remains incredibly faithful to the book.” He also divulged that the book suggests a potential romantic tension between Kat and Stagger, “but we opted not to explore that angle.” Eleazar joked, “That’s his interpretation.
Simultaneously, Plummer portrays Kat’s friend Stacey. Regarding her character, Plummer commented, “I believe for Stacey, Kat is the friend you boast about as your cousin, but she isn’t actually your cousin. Yet, she feels a strong familial love towards her. Stacey entered Kat’s life after Josh, so she’s somewhat new, but she views Kat as someone from a robust, loving family and deeply respects and admires her.
As the actor portraying Eleazar’s Kat’s father, Henry, I couldn’t help but praise the leading star. “His affection for his daughter shines so brightly, and he yearns only for her success,” I shared. “Being a dad myself, it was heartwarming to channel those emotions through our bond on screen. Rosalind was incredibly gracious with her time. We had a Zoom call, discussions on set – it felt like we’ve known each other forever. So she was exceptionally welcoming and made the set feel like home. Truly, I relished every moment of it.
Henry joked about his struggles with dancing, saying, “There’s a well-known dance scene,” he noted. “I can’t dance a bit. They continually ask me to be on Strictly (Come Dancing, the BBC dance show). I would essentially disappoint every Black person in Britain if I were to participate.
Newcomers to the Coben-verse found it a simple and straightforward choice to be part of the production titled “Missing You”.
Walters confessed that if numerous people keep urging him to watch something, he tends to resist. He finds himself becoming obstinate about it. However, there was an exception with the series “Fool Me Once“. He ended up watching it completely and even binge-watched it. To his surprise, he was captivated by it. Later on, when the opportunity to join the show presented itself, he eagerly accepted without hesitation. He appreciated the depth of the worlds portrayed and found the team exceptionally talented as well.
He subsequently praised Eleazar for flawlessly embodying the lead role while simultaneously overseeing the actors’ department and providing support to fellow actors. “She was incredibly dedicated to us,” he concluded.
Plummer concurred, sharing her personal encounter with the show “Fool Me Once“. She recounted, “I recall being on a flight and bawling my eyes out in front of everyone, which was quite humiliating. I believe I unconsciously brought this upon myself. As Ashley pointed out, it seemed like an obvious choice. It’s thrilling to be involved in that realm.
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2024-12-21 03:25