Peacock’s John Wayne Gacy Series Devil in Disguise: Everything to Know

Peacock’s Devil in Disguise: John Wayne Gacy is the latest scripted series centered around a prolific serial killer.

According to the show’s synopsis, the limited TV series “peels back the twisted layers of John Wayne Gacy‘s life while weaving in the heartrending stories of his mostly gay victims.” Devil in Disguise is focused on “exploring the grief, guilt, and trauma of their families and friends and exposing the systemic failures, missed opportunities and societal prejudices that fueled his reign of terror.”

“From 1972 to 1978, 33 young men were kidnapped, murdered and buried in a crawl space beneath their killer’s house. And no one was the wiser,” a press release read. “Not for all those years. Why? He was charming and funny. Had a good, All-American job. Was a community leader. He even volunteered to entertain sick kids … while dressed as a clown.”

The scripted series is inspired by Peacock’s 2021 docuseries of the same name — one of several TV shows that focuses on notorious true crimes, including Ryan Murphy‘s Monsters about Erik Menéndez and Lyle Menéndez and Paramount+’s untitled series about JonBenét Ramsey.

Keep scrolling for everything to know about Peacock’s Devil in Disguise:

Who Is John Wayne Gacy — And Is He Still Alive?

Gacy was a serial killer and sex offender who raped, tortured and murdered dozens of young men and boys. After he was convicted of 32 murders, he was sentenced to death and died by lethal injection in 1994.

When Is ‘Devil in Disguise’ Coming Out?

Peacock has not released a premiere date or episode count after Devil in Disguise: John Wayne Gacy was ordered straight to series.

Who Is Involved in ‘Devil in Disguise’?

Devil in Disguise is created by Patrick Macmanus, who is best known for his work on The Girl From Plainville and Dr. Death. The lead role of Gacy will be played by Michael Chernus, while Gabriel Luna plays Detective Rafael Tovar, James Badge Dale is Chief of Detectives Joe Kozenczak, Michael Angarano portrays Sam Amirante, Chris Sullivan is Lead Prosecutor Bill Kunkle and Marin Ireland plays Elizabeth Piest.

How Is ‘Devil in Disguise’ Different From Other Projects About the Notorious Killer?

The limited series makes an effort to focus on Gacy’s victims — something other shows centered around notorious murderers have been chastised for allegedly ignoring. Devil in Disguise: John Wayne Gacy is expected to address the trauma inflicted on the victims’ families and in addition to questions about investigative missteps and systemic failures that led to Gacy evading the law for so long.

What Else Has Peacock Released About John Wayne Gacy?

In 2021, Peacock released a six-part series titled John Wayne Gacy: Devil in Disguise, which contained an audio recording of Gacy and exclusive interviews with people who knew him.

“If there are more victims out there and they could be connected to him, it would give resolution to any families who are still searching for answers,” executive producer Alexa Danner said at the time about the docuseries.