Sam Claflin’s ‘Lazarus’ Debut on Amazon Prime: Inside the Actor’s Dark Turn

When Sam Claflin stepped onto the set of the new "Lazarus"global streaming on Amazon Prime Video, the English actor didn’t just sign a contract—he signed up for a psychological gauntlet that would echo through his own past.

What Is “Lazarus” and Why It Matters

Created by bestselling mystery novelist Harlan Coben, the six‑part limited series drops on October 22, 2023. It follows Joel “Laz” Lazarus, a man whose quiet life spirals after a mysterious cassette tape forces him to confront memories he’s tried to bury for decades. The premise sounds like any Coben twist, but the execution leans heavily into the psychological thriller genre, blending courtroom intrigue with mind‑bending flashbacks.

For fans of Coben’s previous Netflix adaptations—“The Stranger” (2020) and “The Woods” (2020)—the series promises the same razor‑sharp plot turns, but with a fresh visual aesthetic courtesy of director Marc Munden. Munden, who earned a reputation for atmospheric storytelling on “Utopia” (2014) and “National Treasure” (2016), brings a muted‑color palette and a relentless sense of claustrophobia that mirrors Laz’s own mental confinement.

Sam Claflin’s Turn as Joel Lazarus

Claflin—best known for his roles in “Peaky Blinders,” “Daisy Jones & The Six,” and the “Hunger Games” franchise—spoke openly about the toll the role took on him. In an exclusive interview on October 18, 2023, he confessed, “I haven’t thought about that for like 20 odd years. But I feel like this sort of journey of self‑discovery is something I’m now on the path of… the healing moment.” He described a “mini Joel Lazarus breakdown” that hit him right after the final day of filming, attributing it to a blend of exhaustion and an unexpected emotional release.

The actor’s method‑like immersion went beyond memorizing lines. He kept the cassette tape on set as a tangible reminder of the character’s obsession, often listening to it during rehearsals. “It’s weird,” he said, “but having that physical object in the room made the paranoia feel real, and the paranoia felt real for me too.” Those moments, he believes, opened him up in “a new way,” allowing him to examine his own buried regrets.

Behind the Scenes: Production and Direction

Principal photography wrapped in March 2023 after a grueling 14‑week schedule in London. Tight corridors, rain‑slicked streets, and a fog‑dense Thames set the visual tone. The crew used a mix of practical lighting and handheld cameras to keep the audience off‑balance, mirroring Laz’s own disorientation.

Munden worked hand‑in‑hand with Claflin during the most emotionally charged scenes. “We’d run the same takes three, four times,” the director recalled in an interview with TV Insider. “The goal wasn’t just to get a perfect line— it was to capture the tremor that comes when a character finally confronts a truth he’s been avoiding.”

One of the series’ most talked‑about moments—a blood‑splattered knife at the finale—was actually filmed in three separate versions. In one take the knife was clean, in another it bore the faint smudge of blood, and in the final cut a vivid crimson stain suggested a character named Laura might be dead. The producers let Claflin and the writers vote on which version felt most “suggestive,” a decision that has sparked endless debate among viewers.

Coben’s Signature Twists Meet Claflin’s Method Acting

The hallmark of Coben’s storytelling is the relentless twist. When Claflin read the script, he admitted, “Again Harlan is known for his twist. No one does it better than Harlan. Like he has these little red‑herring… you never see it coming.” The actor’s immersion translated that literary surprise onto screen, making the audience gasp as Laz’s past collided with the present.

In the same October 18 interview, a sudden interruption—someone calling out “Mrs. Thompson”—added an almost meta‑layer to the conversation, reminding everyone that even in a tightly controlled environment, chaos can slip in. Claflin laughed it off, noting that such moments felt “like code‑switching” for an actor: you have to shift from the scripted world to the unpredictable real one, a skill that mirrors Laz’s own attempts to survive social expectations.

Audience Reaction and the Ambiguous Ending

Early reviews have praised the series for its moody cinematography and Claflin’s nuanced performance. However, the ambiguous finale—whether Laura is truly dead or merely a narrative red‑herring—has split fans. Some praise the open‑endedness as “classic Coben,” while others argue it feels like a “soft reset” for a possible second season.

Critics note that the series’ willingness to leave questions hanging reflects a broader trend in streaming drama: *binge‑watchable* stories that reward discussion on social media. In fact, Twitter’s #LazarusTwist trended for 12 hours after the episode aired, with over 20,000 tweets debating the knife’s symbolism.

What’s Next for “Lazarus” and Its Cast

Amazon Prime Video has not confirmed a renewal, but Coben hinted in a September 2023 interview with TV Insider that the novel’s universe could expand into a spinoff focusing on the cassette’s creator. Meanwhile, Claflin says the role has sparked a new interest in psychological thrillers, and he’s already in talks for a similar project slated for early 2025.

If the series does return, fans can expect more of the same unsettling atmosphere, plus perhaps a deeper dive into the backstory of the cassette itself—a relic that, in the world of “Lazarus,” seems to hold more power than any detective’s notebook.