Most true crime podcasters try to emphasize that while their shows are for entertainment purposes, they come from a place of respect and are not just exercises in fantasizing about what it would be like to live as a crime scene detective. But in the first trailer of Peacock’s new series Based on a true storya couple’s homemade show about their neighbor’s untimely death is just the first step towards fulfilling their dreams of solving murders and maybe making some money.
From executive producers Craig Rosenberg and Jason Bateman, Based on a true story tells the story of husband and wife duo Ava (Kaley Cuoco) and Nathan Bartlett (Chris Messina) – a happy couple strapped for cash as they expect a new baby. As a former real estate agent and tennis star, Ava and Nathan seem somewhat accustomed to the finer things in life and uncertain about how they are going to make ends meet. Based on a true story‘s first trailer.
Now that they’re both out of work and looking for new jobs, life is stressful enough for the couple without them having to worry about the West Side Ripper, a local serial killer on the loose. But as the Ripper’s body count continues to rise, Ava – a true crime junkie – sees an opportunity to use their proximity to one of the murders to launch her own podcast about it and use the show to find out which of their friends might be the new “it” killer.
Based on a true story‘s trailer makes it seem like it has more than a little in common with HBO’s The stewardess, both because of its focus on amateurs getting head over heels in crime and because of the Kaley Cuoco of it all. But what really stands out about the show of this early look is how many side eyes Based on a true story could have for the true crime genre when it’s all season hits Peacock on June 8.
