People often say The Night Agent is Netflix’s answer to Prime Video’s hit show Reacher, but soon, Netflix might have something even better up its sleeve. Reacher, which is based on Lee Child’s Jack Reacher books, has become one of the most valuable and successful shows on Prime. In fact, it’s been such a big hit that they’re even making a spinoff around a side character, Frances Neagley.
Netflix’s The Night Agent came pretty close to matching Reacher in terms of popularity and success. Like Reacher, it’s coming back with a new season. But even with all the hype, The Night Agent hasn’t really hit that “Reacher-level” mark just yet. Surprisingly, Netflix is now working on another book-based thriller series that could actually become the perfect alternative to Reacher.
This new Netflix show will be based on the Harry Hole book series by Jo Nesbø. Harry Hole is the main character in 13 detective novels, and he’s known for being intense, sharp, and often doing things his own (and sometimes morally grey) way, kind of like Jack Reacher. The show is going to be based on the fifth book, The Devil’s Star, and it’s expected to release in 2026. Norwegian actor Tobias Santelmann will play Harry Hole, and the show will be called Jo Nesbø’s Detective Hole.
Even though people currently see The Night Agent as Netflix’s version of Reacher, the Harry Hole series might actually be a better fit. That’s because Harry Hole, like Jack Reacher, is a loner type who uses his own wild methods to solve cases, often ignoring rules or crossing moral lines if that’s what it takes. He’s darker, messier, and more unpredictable than The Night Agent’s Peter Sutherland, which might appeal more to fans who enjoy complex, edgy characters.
Another huge advantage? The Night Agent was based on just one book. So after Netflix adapted that, they had to come up with their own storyline for the next season. But with the Harry Hole series, Netflix has over ten full-length novels ready to go. That means they can keep adapting one book per season, just like what Reacher does, and not worry about running out of material.
Now, yes, there was a movie made before from one of the Harry Hole books, The Snowman (2017), based on book seven. It had a big Hollywood cast and was expected to be great, but it flopped really badly. Critics hated it, fans were disappointed, and it completely missed what made the books work. This is actually good news for Netflix, because now they know exactly what not to do. If they avoid those mistakes and stick to the gritty, slow-burn style of the books, the series could be a major win.
So yeah, while The Night Agent is cool, Netflix’s new Harry Hole series might be the real deal, a darker, better, more Reacher-like thriller that fans are seriously going to love.