| Genre: | Thriller, dark comedy |
| Developer: | Ben Chanan |
| Starring: |
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| Language: | English, German |
| Num Seasons: | 1 |
| Num Episodes: | 8 |
| Network: | Sky Max |
Then You Run is a British-German thriller, dark comedy television series based on the novel You (2014) by Zoran Drvenkar, adapted by Ben Chanan for Sky Max. The eight-episode series premiered on 7 July 2023. It depicts four English high school friends on summer vacation: Tara (Leah McNamara), "Stink" (Vivian Oparah), Ruth (Yasmin Monet Prince) and Nessi (Isidora Fairhurst). They flee from Tara's uncle Reagan (Richard Coyle) after she killed her father Orin (Cillian O'Sullivan) and stole his heroin. They are pursued across Europe from Rotterdam to Hamburg and then to Norway. The series is directed by Robert McKillop, Delyth Thomas and Paul Walker, with scripts written by Chanan, Fintan Ryan, Nyla Levy and Catherine Moulton.
Four London high school friends Tara, "Stink", Ruth and Nessi are on their summer holidays. Tara's grandmother dies and Tara decides to stay with her long-estranged father, Orin, in Rotterdam. The other three want to go to Zante. While visiting Orin, Tara discovers he is a drug dealer for his older brother Reagan. Orin maintains that Tara's mother, Maggie, died in a car accident, in 2004. Tara invites her three friends to join her. Just before they arrive Tara consumes high-grade heroin, sees Maggie on Orin's laptop and kills Orin. When "Stink", Ruth and Nessi arrive they find Tara drugged and Orin's frozen corpse. "Stink" steals a 5 kg heroin cache and plans to sell it to Darian. Darian is Reagan's wastrel and disappointing son. Ruth starts flushing heroin down the toilet but "Stink" saves 3 kg. Reagan was delivering heroin to rival German drug boss Dagmar to convince her to import drugs directly to Rotterdam before dispersal Europe-wide.
With Nessi driving, the four women flee in Orin's car towards Maggie's hotel in Norway. Reagan sends Darian to follow but he must avoid Dagmar's notice when traversing Germany. Along the way, "Stink" befriends a musician, Marten. The four friends visit Marten at a festival, Eisenschtompschtomp, near Hamburg, where they sell heroin. Reagan, his henchman Turi, and Darian track the women to Eisenschtompschtomp. Upon escaping Tara, Ruth and Nessi swap cars with Marten. Darian and Reagan ram Orin's car, killing Marten. Reagan is injured and arrested. Tara, Ruth and Nessi take Marten's car to a police station. Dagmar, also a federal police inspector, questions Tara and Reagan. Dagmar releases Tara, Ruth and Nessi but has them followed to Denmark. Dagmar arranges for Reagan's kidnapping. Turi captures "Stink" and collects Darian. Turi but cannot kill "Stink" as she is pregnant. "Stink" subverts Darian after he learns Turi killed his friend. Turi kills himself and Darian takes "Stink" to Denmark. Tara kills a policewoman and shoots off Ruth's finger tip.
Ruth is left at hospital for treatment. Dagmar abducts Ruth and follows other women onto Skagerrak ferry towards Norway. Reagan escapes, kills Dagmar's men, and hires fishermen to follow Tara. Tara and Nessi update "Stink" and Darian. Serial killer and Marten's father, "the Traveller", chats to Tara. He learns she is going to Maggie's hotel. Later "the Traveller" kills Dagmar. Tara grabs Dagmar's keys. Nessi drives Tara and "Stink" with Ruth unbeknownst hidden in boot. Tara, Nessi and "Stink" push car off cliff and fortuitously release Ruth. The four women reach Maggie's hotel but are followed by Reagan, "the Traveller", Dagmar's crew and Darian. Tara discovers she hallucinated that Maggie was still alive. "The Traveller" starts killing people at the hotel, including Darian and Dagmar's crew. He captures both Tara and Reagan, who has admitted he's Tara's father. "The Traveller"s about to kill Tara in front of Reagan when "Stink", Ruth and Nessi interrupt. "The Traveller" moves towards them when Tara lunges and kills him instead. The four women and Reagan leave the hotel.
Main cast
Additional cast
In February 2020, it was announced that Sky had commissioned an eight-part adaptation of Zoran Drvenkar's novel You penned by Ben Chanan from Kudos (under Banijay UK). Chanan would also serve as executive producer along with Karen Wilson and Katie McAleese for Kudos; Kara Manley and Serena Thompson for Sky Studios; and Derek Ritchie as producer.[1] German company MadeFor boarded the production as a co-producer. The German Motion Picture Fund (GMPF) also provided funding for the project.[2]
The cast were revealed in August 2021, with Leah McNamara set to lead the series alongside Vivian Oparah, Yasmin Monet Prince, and Isidora Fairhurst. Also joining the cast were Richard Coyle, Cillian O'Sullivan, Francis Magee, Darren Cahill, and Christian Rubeck.[3]
Principal photography began in June 2021.[4]
The series was aired on Sky Max in the UK from 7 July 2023.[5]