Netflix fans admit they 'can't take a Fool Me Once character seriously' after recognizing the actor from a classic film

It is the global sensation that captivates millions of people with its twists and turns.

But fans of Netflix's Fool Me Once have admitted they're struggling to take any of the characters seriously, after recognizing the actor from a very different role.

In the series, veteran actor Adeel Akhtar plays detective Kierce, but a fan quickly noticed his familiar face from the 2010 film Four Lions.

The role is certainly in contrast to playing a straight-laced copper, with Akhtar starring as a homegrown terrorist with plans to become a suicide bomber.

The fan shared a photo of Adeel in Fool Me Once, alongside his role in Four Lions, and captioned their post: 'Just started Fool Me Once on Netflix.

In the series, veteran actor Adeel Akhtar plays detective Kierce, but a fan quickly noticed his familiar face from the 2010 film Four Lions.

'The new one from Michelle Keegan. The instantly recognizable detective Kierce is Brother Faisal from Four Lions. I can't take him seriously as a detective now.'

In addition to starring in Four Lions, Adeel won a BAFTA in 2016 for his performance in the 2016 film Murdered By My Father, and also had roles in Ali and Ava, Killing Eve and Sweet Tooth.

Since arriving on Netflix on January 1, Fool Me Once has hit number one worldwide after getting viewers hooked on its gripping episodes and plot twists, with star Michelle Keegan even sharing her disbelief at the show's success.

The series stars Michelle, whose character Maya deals with the murder of her husband Joe, months after the murder of her sister Claire.

The eight-part drama series, which also stars Adeel Akhtar and Joanna Lumley, is the latest in Netflix's successful series of adaptations of works by American mystery thriller writer Harlan Coban.

Not long after Joe's murder, Maya sees her late husband on a secret nanny camera she installed to keep an eye on their daughter Lily.

Maya's discovery soon leads to a web of lies and conspiracy as she tries to discover what happened to Joe and his family's possible involvement.

However, the amount of twists proved to be too much for some as viewers who spent the first week of the year binging the series took to social media to complain about the new release.

In Four Lions, Akhtar plays the role of a homegrown terrorist who plans to become a suicide bomber

Since arriving on Netflix on January 1, Fool Me Once has hit number one worldwide after hooking viewers with its gripping episodes and plot twists

Fans shared their thoughts on X – formerly known as Twitter – saying: 'Watching Fool Me Once. This is completely ridiculous nonsense, with Michelle Keegan and Joanna Lumley chewing scenery for their lives. Of course, I'm obsessed with the fact that I'm about to start Episode 4.”

“Fool me once, that's okay. Too Americanized. Wondering why her gun wasn't picked up by the police when her husband was killed, but after the funeral? Ridiculous. Lots of crazy things happen. Still entertaining.'

'Is it me or is Fool Me Once way too complicated? Michelle Keegan is brilliant in it but all the red herrings are ridiculous #skiptotheend.”

“It got more and more ridiculous as it went on. A bit of light-hearted fun instead of some serious whodoneity. I was fooled once, but never again, of course.'

Many were still gripped and enjoyed the series, but were left with questions at the end, with one writing: 'Fool Me Once was good but I finished the story in episode 6 and can't decide on the ending! Was it good or a bit ridiculous?'

'Fool Me Once is downright ridiculous. I got sucked in by people saying this is the best show on TV, and it made me realize how many imbeciles I was surrounding myself with.”

“Am I the only one who doesn't like Fool Me Once, it's so far-fetched and ridiculous?”

The series stars Michelle Keegan, whose character Maya deals with the murder of her husband Joe, months after the murder of her sister Claire.

'I was surprised that Fool Me Once is so popular. The plot twists were too ridiculous to maintain credibility, and that wasn't helped by the huge holes in the story.'

'As a fan of Harlan Coben's Netflix shows, I have to say that Fool Me Once is great. Essentially they are all the same, which is to say ridiculous, wildly implausible and extremely entertaining.'

“Fool Me Once is definitely worth a watch, but the 18 years later scene at the end is ridiculous (laughing face).”

Fool Me Once was released as a novel in 2016 and follows the likes of The Stranger and Stay Close to become the eighth member of Netflix's Harlan Coben Collection.