Netflix’s Most-Watched Show of 2024 Crowned Him the New Crime King — Now Danny Brocklehurst Is Storming Back With a Dark, Dangerous New Drama Fans Say Could Be Even More Addictive!
Crime drama fans, take a deep breath — because the writer behind Netflix’s most-watched show of 2024 is preparing his next obsession. Award-winning screenwriter Danny Brocklehurst, the creative force who helped turn Harlan Coben adaptations into global streaming events, is returning with a brand-new crime drama that promises secrets, betrayals, and the kind of slow-burn tension that keeps you awake long past midnight. With Brocklehurst at the helm, viewers know exactly what’s coming: flawed characters, shocking twists, and a story that tightens its grip with every episode. If his last series owned your watchlist, this one may completely consume it.
Danny Brocklehurst’s ascent to streaming royalty hit its peak in 2024 with Fool Me Once, the Harlan Coben adaptation that exploded onto Netflix on New Year’s Day and quickly became one of the platform’s most-watched series of the year. Starring Michelle Keegan as Maya Stern, a grieving widow who spots her supposedly murdered husband on a nanny cam, the eight-episode thriller blended domestic suspense, family secrets, and jaw-dropping revelations. It topped Netflix charts in dozens of countries, amassed massive viewership hours, and secured a spot among the streamer’s all-time English-language hits—often ranked as the sixth most successful overall. Critics and fans praised Brocklehurst’s sharp adaptation for its pacing, emotional depth, and signature Coben twists that kept audiences guessing until the final frame.
Brocklehurst’s collaboration with Coben didn’t start there. He previously adapted The Stranger (2020), Safe (2018), and Stay Close (2021) for Netflix, each delivering binge-worthy mysteries centered on ordinary people entangled in extraordinary deceptions. His knack for humanizing complex characters—flawed parents, haunted professionals, and everyday folks hiding dark truths—turned these stories into must-watch events. In 2024, Fool Me Once solidified his reputation as the go-to architect for high-stakes crime dramas that dominate global viewing.
Now, Brocklehurst is channeling that momentum into fresh territory. While his Harlan Coben streak continues with upcoming Netflix projects like Run Away (a family-centric thriller starring James Nesbitt, set for a 2026 New Year’s Day release), the immediate buzz centers on his next big swing: a dark, dangerous new drama described by insiders as potentially even more addictive. Reports point to a gripping caper-style crime series in development for Disney+ (or similar platforms), building on his proven formula of intricate plots, moral ambiguity, and relentless suspense. Though details remain under wraps, early whispers suggest a story laced with betrayal, high-stakes cons, and characters whose secrets unravel in increasingly perilous ways—echoing the psychological intensity that made Fool Me Once unforgettable.
Brocklehurst’s versatility shines across platforms. Beyond Netflix, he created and wrote the hit Sky series Brassic (a comedy-drama about working-class friends in Northern England), and his BBC-STAN drama Ten Pound Poms (about post-WWII British migrants to Australia) earned acclaim, with Season 2 launching in early 2025. Upcoming works include the ITV drama Adultery, a relationship thriller exploring infidelity and its fallout, and his co-creation with Coben of Lazarus (a Prime Video psychological thriller starring Sam Claflin and Bill Nighy, premiering in 2025). Each project showcases his ability to blend genre thrills with authentic emotional stakes.
What sets Brocklehurst apart is his focus on character-driven suspense. He crafts flawed protagonists whose decisions ripple outward, creating tension that feels personal and inescapable. Fans rave about how his scripts balance plot twists with genuine human drama—making viewers invest in the people as much as the mystery. As one viewer put it after Fool Me Once, “It’s not just the shocks; it’s the way he makes you care about people who aren’t always likable.”
With Fool Me Once‘s legacy still fresh—racking up billions of viewing hours and endless social media theories—Brocklehurst’s next move feels like a sure bet for another obsession. Whether it’s the rumored caper drama or one of his Coben-tied projects, the promise is clear: more late-night binges, more gasps at revelations, and more proof that Brocklehurst is the undisputed king of modern crime storytelling.
The wait won’t be long. As production ramps up and first looks emerge, the anticipation builds. If 2024 belonged to Fool Me Once, 2025-2026 could crown Brocklehurst’s next masterpiece as even more unputdownable. Grab your remote—the next addiction is loading.
