❚ We may earn commission from links on this page. Our editorial is always independent (learn more).

Fool Me Once release date announced by Netflix – with first look images

Harlan Coben's upcoming Netflix boasts an all-star cast.

Judith and Maya stood net to one another outside at Joe's funeral

Vishal Sharma/Netflix

Published: Thursday, 2 November 2023 at 9:01 am

Subscribe to Radio Times magazine and get 12 issues for £1

Harlan Coben's latest Netflix thriller Fool Me Once, which is based on his best-selling book of the same name, stars Michelle Keegan (Our Girl, Brassic) as Maya Stern, a woman who is reeling from the brutal murder of her husband Joe, played by Richard Armitage (Obsession).

Ad

But a secret "nanny cam" installed in her home leads Maya to believe that her husband might still be alive.

The eight part series will arrive on Netflix from Monday 1st January – and the streamer has released another selection of first look images, featuring additional cast Dame Joanna Lumley (Absolutely Fabulous), Adeel Akhtar (Sherwood), Emmett J Scanlan (Peaky Blinders) and Dino Fetscher (Paranoid), which you can see both in the lead image and below.

Fool Me Once. Michelle Keegan as Maya Stern and Richard Armitage as Joe Burkett in Fool Me Once. Cr. Matt SquireNetflix © 2023

Michelle Keegan and Richard Armitage in Fool Me Once Matt Squire/Netflix

Speaking exclusively to RadioTimes.com, Coben revealed that Keegan's character is inspired by a real person he personally spent time with.

Want to see this content?

This page contains content provided by Google reCAPTCHA. We ask for your permission before anything is loaded, as Google reCAPTCHA may use cookies and other technologies. To view this content, choose 'Accept and continue' to allow Google reCAPTCHA and its required purposes.

Accept and continue

"Michelle's character is a military pilot," he explained, adding: "A number of years ago, I went on a United Service Organisations tour to talk to soldiers about writing and entertain them to some degree. We went to Kuwait, all over, including a military base in England.

Fool Me Once. Michelle Keegan as Maya Stern in Fool Me Once. Cr. James Stack/Netflix © 2023

Michelle Keegan in Fool Me Once James Stack/Netflix

"When I was there, I met one of the first female combat helicopter pilots that had served in the Gulf War. She was a big reader and we'd talk for hours on end, and I thought, 'I need to create a character like this'.

"I'm always looking for a character I haven't done before – and almost the entire book is written from her perspective."

Fool Me Once. Michelle Keegan as Maya Stern in Fool Me Once. Cr. Vishal Sharma/Netflix © 2023

Emmett J Scanlan and Michelle Keegan in Fool Me Once Vishal Sharma/Netflix

Coben went on to say that Maya's reintegration back into civilian life following her military service plays a big role in Fool Me Once.

Read more:

"What happens when that person is trying to come back into the real world, the distance and the disconnect that they sometimes will feel? How do I throw that into a compelling mystery story?"

Fool Me Once. Adeel Akhtar in Fool Me Once. Cr. Vishal SharmaNetflix © 2023

Dino Fetscher and Adeel Akhtar in Fool Me Once Vishal SharmaNetflix

Coben also teased "the most shocking ending" to the series, adding: "One of the things I hope we've done well for people, and one of the reasons that the shows [I've previously done] have been popular, is... you have to actually deliver on the ending.

"It's sort of a powerhouse emotional ending, and I think our last episode, which is also unusual, is our shortest episode. Rather than try to bloat the finale, we decided we were actually just going to deliver what we wanted to in that finale."

Fool Me Once is coming to Netflix in the future. Sign up for Netflix from £6.99 a month. Netflix is also available on Sky Glass and Virgin Media Stream.

Check out more of our Drama coverage or visit our TV Guide and Streaming Guide to find out what's on.

Ad

Try Radio Times magazine today and get 10 issues for only £10 – subscribe now and celebrate the 60th anniversary of Doctor Who with a special issue of Radio Times. For more from the biggest stars in TV, listen to The Radio Times Podcast.

Authors

A head and shoulders shot of Abby Robinson. She is in front of a grey background, looking at the camera and smiling. She wears a black zipped-up jacket with an elaborate gold and maroon design

Abby RobinsonDrama Editor

Abby Robinson is the Drama Editor for Radio Times, covering TV drama and comedy titles. She previously worked at Digital Spy as a TV writer, and as a content writer at Mumsnet. She possesses a postgraduate diploma and a degree in English Studies.

Ad

Ad

Get the Christmas double issue

Too much to watch at Christmas? Let Radio Times do the choosing to find something the whole family will enjoy.

Subscribe by 3 Dec

Loading...

Ad

Loading...