Clive Owen And Melissa McCarthy Join Series Covering World Famous Child Murder

Both the time before and after the murder of JonBenet Ramsey will be explored, allowing the show to depict how the national media attention impacted John and Patsy in the wake of their daughter’s death. The show’s focus on Patsy and John is a particularly charged creative choice, as they were suspects in the unsolved murder. The show will have to deal with the case being unsolved and portraying leads many believed, and some still believe, were the culprits. 

Clive Owen will play JonBenet Ramsey’s father, John. Owen is best known as the leading man in several action and crime movies from the 2000s, like Sin City, Children of Men, and Derailed. The English actor has made a splash in American television in recent years in shows like American Crime Story, in which he played Bill Clinton, and Murder at the End of the World. 

Best known for her comedic roles, Melissa McCarthy is an interesting choice to play Patsy in JonBenet Ramsey. Her most well-known roles have been in comedies like Bridesmaids, Spy, and Gilmore Girls. However, she earned a Best Actress nomination for her Can You Ever Forgive Me role and acted in the drama mini-series Nine Perfect Strangers, proving her dramatic acting chops.

JonBenet Ramsey has also brought together some established talent to work behind the camera in the limited series as well. Veteran writer and director Richard LaGravenese will be the showrunner for the limited series. It’s also been announced that Black Mirror and A Very British Scandal director Anne Sewitsky will direct half of the eight-episode mini-series. 

The true story behind JonBenet Ramsey is tragic and incredibly dark, capturing the nation’s attention in 1996. The 6-year-old girl was found murdered in her family’s basement after being missing for a short time. The case became a major news story, with details like her participation in beauty pageants being closely scrutinized by not just the police but the media and the public. 

True crime has always been a popular genre, and shows like The People v. O.J. Simpson have only increased that popularity. JonBenet Ramsey will tap into the case’s infamy and enduring cultural legacy and the media landscape surrounding it. While the limited series will focus on the Ramsey family, there will almost certainly be depictions of the numerous media figures involved in the story becoming national news as well.

With an impressive cast and a story that has remained a part of American culture for decades, JonBenet Ramsey could be the next major true crime hit. Clive Owen and Melisa McCarthy are both proven actors with great range and enough star power to draw viewers in. The limited series doesn’t have a release date yet but has been picked up by Paramount+.