Amazon Studios Orders Pilot Based on Harlan Coben’s Shelter

Amazon Studios has given a pilot order to the YA mystery/crime drama Shelter, based on the first novel in Harlan Coben’s Mickey Bolitar trilogy.

Shelter tells the story of Mickey Bolitar, who after witnessing his father’s death and sending his mom to rehab is forced to live with his estranged aunt and switch high schools. He meets a great girl, Ashley, and it seems like things might finally be improving. But when Ashley vanishes, Mickey follows a trail into a seedy underworld that reveals that Ashley isn’t who she claimed to be.

Coben will serve as an executive producer on the project alongside showrunner and executive producer Ed Decter (Shadowhunters). Erik Barmack will also serve as an executive producer. The pilot will begin filming this summer.

Amazon ordered the pilot from MGM International Television Production.

“Shelter is a compelling story that hooks you from the beginning, with a hero you love to root for in Mickey,” said Vernon Sanders, co-head of television at Amazon Studios. “We’re thrilled to team with MGM, Harlan and Ed to bring this popular character to life on screen.”

Rola Bauer, president of international TV productions at MGM, said, “Harlan Coben’s novels are exactly the right fit for our target global audiences: narratives that transcend borders and break boundaries. He is a brilliant storyteller who is read worldwide, and along with our talented showrunner Ed Decter, we are proud to bring this relevant story to the screen, together with our partners at Amazon Studios.”

“I can’t wait to work on this adaptation of my young-adult novels with the talented people at Amazon and MGM International TV Productions,” said Coben.

Decter added, “Harlan Coben and I grew up in neighboring towns in New Jersey; however, only one of us has sold 75 million books.”