“Myron Is My Heart”: Harlan Coben Teams with David E. Kelley to Bring Flagship Sleuth Myron Bolitar to Netflix
After a prolific, decade-long creative alliance that has adapted numerous standalone novels across Britain, Europe, and the United States, Harlan Coben is officially bringing his foundational protagonist to television. Netflix is currently filming an American adaptation of Myron Bolitar in New York, translating Coben’s beloved 12-book literary franchise into a prestige drama series.
While Coben’s adaptations routinely draw massive global viewership, the author has acknowledged an unprecedented level of emotional stakes surrounding the production. Speaking on the Table Manners podcast, Coben admitted to feeling deeply protective of the material:
“Myron is my heart, and I’m very nervous about that series.”
The author has previously described Bolitar as his “most prized possession”—a sentiment shared by Netflix leadership, with Head of Series (US & Canada) Jinny Howe noting the streamer’s pride in being entrusted with Coben’s most personal hero.
The Premise: An NBA Hopeful Turned Reluctant Sleuth
First introduced in Coben’s 1995 novel Deal Breaker, Myron Bolitar broke conventional noir conventions by blending hardboiled investigation with athletic industry realism, domestic warmth, and sharp comedic banter:
-
The Fall and Pivot: A standout collegiate basketball talent headed for NBA stardom, Myron’s athletic career ended abruptly following a catastrophic knee injury. Rather than exiting the sports world, he reinvented himself as an athlete representative and sports manager.
-
Beyond the Contract: In an industry defined by cutthroat negotiations, big money, and illicit fixers, Myron repeatedly steps outside boardroom boundaries to protect his clients from blackmail, organized crime, extortion, and homicide.
-
The Creative Powerhouses: To adapt the long-running series, Coben partnered with multi-Emmy-winning showrunner David E. Kelley (Big Little Lies, The Practice) alongside Kyle Long (The Right Stuff), both serving as executive producers and showrunners.
Ensemble Cast: Colin Woodell Steps Into the Lead
Leading the production as the titular former athlete and accidental detective is Colin Woodell (The Continental, Pulse). The expansive ensemble brings together prominent veterans across film, drama, and comedy:
-
Colin Woodell as Myron Bolitar
-
KJ Apa (Riverdale, The Map That Leads to You) as Win Lockwood, Myron’s fiercely loyal, aristocratic, and lethal best friend
-
Diane Guerrero (Orange Is the New Black, The Lincoln Lawyer) as Esperanza Diaz, Myron’s sharp business partner and former professional wrestler
-
Jabari Banks (Bel-Air)
-
Chloe Fineman (Saturday Night Live)
-
Jamie McShane (Wednesday, Task)
-
Ben McKenzie (Gotham, The O.C.)
-
Amanda Warren (East New York, The Night Agent)
-
Quincy Isaiah (Winning Time)
-
Bebe Neuwirth (Frasier, Madam Secretary)
-
Griffin Dunne (This Is Us, After Hours)
-
Melissa Benoist (Supergirl, The Girls on the Bus)
-
Charlie Tahan (Ozark, A Complete Unknown)
-
Jamie Hector (The Wire, Bosch)
-
Sandrine Holt (Your Friends & Neighbors, House of Cards)
-
Ra’Mya Latiah Aikens and Isaiah Hill (Swagger)
Production Timeline and Concurrent Coben Projects
Filming for Myron Bolitar is actively underway in New York, with Netflix expected to announce an official streaming premiere date once principal photography concludes.
The series forms part of an expanding Harlan Coben slate at the streaming giant:
-
Also in production is a UK adaptation of Coben’s thriller The Woods, starring Tom Bateman as barrister Paul “Cope” Copeland and Michelle Keegan (Fool Me Once), centering on an unsolved summer-camp disappearance that resurfaces after two decades.
