Severance star Michael Chernus takes on the role of one of America’s most infamous serial killers in Devil in Disguise: John Wayne Gacy. The first teaser for the series, as well as newly-released images, give a first look at the series, which will comprehensively depict the life of a man who seemed to be a respectable community pillar and neighbor until his horrific crimes were unearthed. All eight episodes of the series will premiere on Peacock on October 16.
The spare, chilling teaser consists mostly of shots of Gacy’s infamous suburban Chicago home, its facade of normality occasionally interrupted by reminders of the crimes committed by its resident. In one shot, blood seemingly spatters in a sink, until a dollop of blue reveals that it’s actually clown makeup; Gacy performed as a clown for charities and children’s hospitals while living a double life as a serial killer. Later, the camera lingers on the hatch to a crawlspace underneath the house before descending into its cramped confines; dozens of Gacy’s victims would eventually be discovered buried in it. Only in the teaser’s closing moments is its focus revealed, when Chernus, as Gacy, answers his front door, giving viewers a glimpse of the character actor as he takes on Gacy’s persona. New images from the series give a more extensive look at the series; it will chronicle Gacy’s life and crimes, which continued unabated until he was arrested and charged with the murders of 33 young men in late 1978.
Who Is the Creative Team Behind ‘Devil in Disguise: John Wayne Gacy’?
In addition to Chernus, the series also stars Gabriel Luna (The Last of Us), Michael Angarano (Sacramento), Chris Sullivan (Presence), James Badge Dale (Hightown), and Marin Ireland (Dope Thief). It is showrun, written, and executive produced by true-crime veteran Patrick Macmanus (Dr. Death, The Girl From Plainville), and executive produced by Noah Oppenheim and Liz Cole for NBC News Studios, as well as Ashley Michel Hoban, Ahmadu Garba, and Kelly Funke for Littleton Road Productions. The series is a dramatization of the popular 2021 Peacock docuseries of the same name; it featured an extensive never-before-seen archical interview of Gacy, who was executed in 1994.
As one of the most notorious serial killers of the 20th century, Gacy has been portrayed on-screen a number of times. Brian Dennehy was Emmy-nominated for his performance in the 1992 TV movie To Catch a Killer. More recently, John Carroll Lynch played Gacy in the fifth season of American Horror Story.
All eight episodes of Devil In Disguise: John Wayne Gacy will premiere on Peacock on October 16. Stay tuned to Collider for future updates.