Amazon Prime Video takes Harlan Coben’s Mickey Bolitar books to series

Amazon Prime Video has ordered a series based on the first novel in New York Times best-selling author Harlan Coben’s Mickey Bolitar trilogy.

Harlan Coben

Shelter is a young-adult action-thriller that tells the story of high school junior as he navigates his new life with a mother in rehab, a dead father, an annoying aunt and a new school in New Jersey with a camel as its mascot.

Coproduced by MGM International Television Productions and Amazon Studios, the series features Jaden Michael (Black & White) in the lead role. It will premiere on Prime Video in more than 240 countries and territories worldwide.

Coben will serve as executive producer with MGM’s Rola Bauer overseeing the series for the studio. Charlotte Coben is a producer and Erik Barmack is also exec producing.

The pilot, directed and exec produced by Patricia Cardoso, wrapped filming in Coben’s home state of New Jersey at the end of 2021.

Coben is the creator and executive producer of several Netflix television dramas as part of a pact with the streamer to adapt 14 of his books for the screen. These include Stay Close, The Stranger, Safe, Gone For Good and The Woods.

“Harlan Coben’s Shelter is a rare action-thriller centred on the strength of family bonds that we are confident our Prime Video audience will enjoy. Rich with young-adult and coming-of-age themes, the story is so special because of how it resonates across all demographics, which is what Harlan does best. From the original Myron Bolitar series to Mickey’s journey of resilience and self-discovery, Harlan is a wiz at creating sharp, distinct characters,” said Vernon Sanders, head of global television at Amazon Studios.

Mark Burnett, MGM’s worldwide television chairman, added: “Harlan Coben is a best-selling novelist with a unique ability to tell epic stories that provide global entertainment.”