Victoria Asare-Archer discusses the British countryside’s role in the new Netflix series.
- Asare-Archer aims to challenge the ‘urban bad, country good’ cliché with a dark narrative.
- Filming locations include Bolton and Manchester’s iconic sites, adding authenticity.
- Key cast members introduced, with Rosalind Eleazar leading as Detective Kat Donovan.
- The series is set to premiere on Netflix on January 1, 2025.
Victoria Asare-Archer, a prominent figure in television writing, has been instrumental in adapting Harlan Coben’s novel ‘Missing You’ for Netflix. Her creative vision focuses on using the British countryside, which she finds both beautiful and haunting. Asare-Archer remarks, ‘I live in the countryside, so the rural landscapes were very important to us. There is a version of the countryside that is wonderfully pretty and beautiful and full of gorgeous rolling fields.’
Emphasising a narrative twist, Asare-Archer seeks to defy traditional perceptions. The countryside, often romanticised, is depicted with a darker edge in the show’s storyline. She expresses, ‘The cliché is: urban- bad, country- good, but we wanted to subvert that by exploring the darkness of the countryside in Titus’ world. That is not a pretty farm. It is a dark, messy, muddy place where horrible things happen. It rained horrifically on the day of filming one of the biggest farm scenes and it felt perfect. Very British.’
Filming in notable locations such as Le Mans Crescent and Victoria Square Bolton, Manchester City Centre, and Parkgate on The Wirral, the series integrates well-known British landscapes to enhance its narrative. The adaptation moves the setting from the US to North West England, bringing local flavour to the global audience.
The series promises an engaging plot with Rosalind Eleazar headlining as Detective Kat Donovan. Alongside her are Richard Armitage, Lenny Henry, Samantha Spiro, Steve Pemberton, Lisa Faulkner, Ashley Walters, and Paul Kaye. The storyline revolves around Donovan’s life being upheaved when her long-lost fiancé, Josh, portrayed by Ashley Walters, reappears under mysterious circumstances.
Slated for release on January 1, 2025, the series comes from a line of successful collaborations between Netflix and Quay Street Productions. This adaptation, supported by executive producers including Harlan Coben and Asare-Archer, looks to deliver another compelling viewing experience.
‘Missing You’ on Netflix is poised to offer a captivating narrative, blending British charm with suspenseful storytelling.
