Peacock has released the first full trailer for the crime drama series Devil in Disguise: John Wayne Gacy, a eight-episode series that will premiere on the streaming service on October 16. The show brings together a high-profile cast including Michael Chernus, Gabriel Luna, James Badge Dale, Michael Angarano, Chris Sullivan and Marin Ireland.
Driven by its official description, the series centers on the heartbreaking stories of Gacy’s victims and the profound grief and trauma endured by their families. It also shines a light on the systemic failures, missed opportunities and societal prejudices that allowed his crimes to go unnoticed for so long.
Executive producers include Patrick Macmanus, Noah Oppenheim, Sarah Bremner and Liz Cole, with NBC News Studios and Littleton Road Productions involved in the project. Macmanus directs alongside Larysa Kondracki, Ashley Michel Hoban, Maggie Kiley and Bille Woodruff. Viewers can catch the first look images and the official trailer as Peacock tees up the eight-episode series.
In other entertainment industry news, Jessie Abbott has been appointed Vice President of Creative Affairs at A+E Studios, reporting to Tana Jamieson, co-head and executive vice president of Creative Affairs. Abbott comes to A+E Studios from Kapital Entertainment, where she served as VP of Current and Development for a decade. Her tenure at Kapital saw her oversee projects such as Black Cake (Hulu), Shining Vale (STARZ), Women of the Movement (ABC), Pivoting (FOX), A Million Little Things (ABC), The Unicorn (CBS) and Tell Me a Story (CBS All Access). Jamieson praised Abbott’s track record of championing distinctive voices and high-quality programming, noting her ability to shepherd projects from inception to premiere.
On the casting front, Season 2 of Murder in a Small Town has announced guest stars Camryn Manheim, Tyler Posey, Jamie Chung, Noah Reid and Sara Canning for the upcoming run, which premieres September 23 on Fox. Manheim plays Jocelyn Tait, a working-class matriarch tied to a family feud who travels to Gibsons for a wedding shaped by tensions. Posey is set as Ryan, described as a former party boy who has embraced holistic health. Chung portrays Lanni Soo, a deputy prosecuting attorney general who brings a sharp, results-driven approach. Canning will play Mackenzie Rankin, organizing and planning a memorial gathering for her younger sister. Reid returns as Tommy Cummins, an unassuming art teacher currently behind bars.
Season 2 picks up with Karl Alberg (Rossif Sutherland) as Gibsons’ new police chief, continuing to uncover the town’s hidden secrets. The evolving dynamic with librarian Cassandra Lee (Kristin Kreuk) adds emotional depth as her professional and community roles intersect with the investigations. The new episodes promise to explore fresh mysteries, including a body found at a local wedding amid a feuding family, a double kidnapping and a stalking case involving a pop star who retreats to Gibsons for a quiet vacation.
This slate underscores a continued push by NBCUniversal networks into provocative, character-driven drama, offering audiences a mix of true-crime-inspired storytelling and taut procedural mysteries. Expect more updates as Peacock and Fox roll out these series later in the year, with creators and cast members likely to discuss their approaches to sensitive subjects and the storytelling choices behind these high-profile projects. If you’re planning to tune in, you’ll want to keep an eye on platform release schedules and upcoming promotional material for deeper insights into each show’s creative direction.