David Harbour In Talks For Murdaugh Murders Hulu Series Lead
True crime is one of the hottest genres today, from successful podcasts to documentaries and, more recently, dramatic mini-series that are all ripped from the headlines. Now, our trusted and proven sources report that Hulu is getting in on the game with Stranger Things David Harbour in discussion for a series based on the Murdaugh murders. Considered to be the trial of the century in South Carolina, the murders of Maggie and Alex Murdaugh remain the most sensational of this decade.
Casting The Murderer
As for how David Harbour is involved with the Murdaugh murders series, he’ll be playing Alex Murdaugh, the family patriarch, an accomplished trial lawyer, a pillar of the community, and also a murderer.
The casting of Harbour is spot-on. He’s proven himself capable of playing roles that contain a layer of sadness but could explode into violence at any moment, perfectly capturing Alex Murdaugh’s dual nature. Charismatic, charming, corrupt, and violent, the real-life villain could be a career-making role for a performer famous for genre fare.
The Fall Of Southern Royalty
When David Harbour steps into the role of Alex Murdaugh, it won’t be just about the murders, as the case wasn’t that simple. Alex is part of the Murdaugh dynasty, three straight generations of prosecuting attorneys in South Carolina’s Lowcountry dating back as far as 1920. The Murdaughs were southern royalty, which is why Alex’s life of crime, which ended with murder but began with embezzlement, fraud, and corruption, shook the entire state.
The First Series Adaptation
David Harbour’s Murdaugh murders series won’t be the first dramatization of the shocking events of June 7, 2021; that honor belongs to Lifetime, which quickly churned out the low-budget Murdaugh Murders: The Movie in 2023. Other streamers have already released documentaries covering the murders and the wild trial. Max was first with Low Country: The Murdaugh Dynasty, which aired in 2022 before the trial had concluded, and most recently, Netflix released Murdaugh Murders: A Southern Scandal in 2023.
Other Roles To Cast
Though Hulu was beaten to the punch by Lifetime, it’s safe to say that the David Harbour Murdaugh murders series will have higher production values and likely go deeper into the story. It remains to be seen who will play Paul Murdaugh, Alex’s son who was also under indictment for the death of Mallory Beach, a teenage passenger of the boat Alex was allegedly driving while drunk. Oddly, Finn Wolfhard, Harbour’s Stranger Things co-star, is the perfect age for the role.
David Harbour’s Big Year
Before David Harbour brings the Murdaugh murders to life, he has a busy 2025 ahead of him, with the impending release of Marvel’s Thunderbolts. Reprising his role as the Red Guardian, this will be Harbour’s second Marvel film, but the expectations this time out are astronomical.
The Marvel Cinematic Universe has been on a gradual downswing since Avengers: Endgame, but the star-studded film, which also includes Sebastian Stan, Florence Pugh, Wyatt Russell, Ayo Edebiri, and Harrison Ford, could be the off-beat shot in the arm that the franchise needs.
A Potential Award-Winning Role
There’s no expected release date yet for David Harbour’s Murdaugh murders series on Hulu. It’s worth it for the streamer to take their time in bringing the series through production, as past true crime dramatization series, including Inventing Anna, Painkiller, and Monster: The Jeffrey Dahmer Story, have all gone on to become award-winning smash hits.
For now, true crime fans can get caught up on the different podcasts and documentaries dissecting the complex case while everyone waits to see if this will continue the award-winning trend.
