Netflix is adding another mystery thriller to its growing lineup, and this one sounds like it has all the ingredients for an addictive binge-watch.
The streaming service is developing a television adaptation of Lucy Clarke’s novel The Surf House, a suspense-filled story set against the stunning coastline of Morocco, where paradise hides some dangerous secrets.
Set atop the cliffs of Morocco, The Surf House takes place in a haven for surfers and travelers looking to escape into endless sunshine and perfect waves. But beneath the laid-back atmosphere is a mystery that refuses to stay buried.
The story follows Bea, who arrives at the sanctuary after a frightening encounter in Marrakesh, hoping to find safety. Instead, she discovers that another young woman who stayed at the same retreat, explored the same beaches, and crossed paths with the same guests disappeared without a trace a year earlier.
The last place she was ever seen was The Surf House, pulling Bea into a mystery that becomes increasingly difficult to escape.
The project is currently in development with Ed Lilly, whose recent directing work includes Tell Me Lies and Industry, leading the adaptation. The series is being produced by The North Road Company and Jessica Rhoades’ Pacesetter Productions.
According to Deadline, the project is being developed through Netflix’s U.S. team. Amy Israel and Josh Stern are executive producing for The North Road, while Jessica Rhoades, Alison Mo Massey, and Lilly will executive produce for Pacesetter.
Clarke has built an impressive reputation for writing gripping destination thrillers, and Hollywood has certainly taken notice. She’s becoming one of the UK’s go-to authors for screen adaptations, with several of her novels already making the leap to television.
Her novel The Castaways was adapted into a Paramount+ series starring Sheridan Smith, while No Escape also received a Paramount+ adaptation. Another of her books, The Hike, has already been optioned by Urban Myth Films, the Studiocanal-backed production company.
Lilly has also been gaining momentum as one of Britain’s rising filmmakers. Along with directing six episodes of Hulu’s Tell Me Lies and three episodes of HBO and the BBC’s Industry, he previously directed the 2020 indie drama VS., starring Connor Swindells, which explored the UK’s rap battle scene.
Netflix hasn’t announced a cast or production timeline yet, but The Surf House has all the makings of the kind of mystery series viewers love to watch.
