Penn Badgley is returning to television in a very different guise: Prime Video has ordered a series based on Benjamin Stevenson’s 2022 novel Everybody in My Family Has Killed Someone, casting Badgley as the story’s uneasy protagonist. The project turns a family reunion in rural Vermont into a snowbound murder mystery with a darkly comic edge — a timely move as streamers keep investing in star-driven genre shows.
What to expect from the adaptation
The series centers on Ern Cunningham, a successful mystery writer who reluctantly joins a family gathering to mark his brother’s release from prison — the same brother Ern once helped put behind bars. When a corpse is discovered and a winter storm isolates the household, long-buried tensions flare and more fatalities follow, exposing secrets and old resentments.
This tonal mix — part whodunit, part black comedy — offers Badgley a chance to shift from the sleek menace he played in You to a role that combines sharp intellect with wry humor. The story’s closed-circle setup and isolated setting make it a natural fit for a limited-series format, where each episode can peel back another layer of familial dysfunction.
Who is behind the camera
David Hemingson, whose credits include the action-comedy series Whiskey Cavalier, will lead the writers’ room and oversee the production as showrunner. He is attached as an executive producer alongside Badgley, Stevenson, Bruna Papandrea, Steve Hutensky and Jeanne Snow. Industry reports also name production partners Fifth Season and Made Up Stories as collaborators on the adaptation.
- Platform: Prime Video (series greenlit)
- Source material: Everybody in My Family Has Killed Someone by Benjamin Stevenson (2022)
- Lead: Penn Badgley as Ern Cunningham
- Showrunner: David Hemingson
- Producers: Bruna Papandrea, Steve Hutensky, Jeanne Snow, Benjamin Stevenson (author)
- Setting: Remote, snowbound community in northern Vermont
Hemingson has said he’s excited to bring the novel’s blend of heart and dark humor to the screen and praised Badgley’s fit for the role; representatives for Badgley and the production partners have not disclosed a production timeline or additional casting yet.
For viewers, the series will be notable both for its tonal contrast with Badgley’s recent work and for how it fits a larger pattern: streamers continue to adapt contemporary novels that blend genre elements and character-driven drama, hoping to attract audiences who favor concentrated, bingeable mystery series.
What remains unclear
Prime Video has not announced a release window, episode count or further casting details. Given the involvement of multiple executive producers and established production companies, a standard development path would likely include a writing phase followed by casting and principal photography — meaning a public premiere could still be months away.
Still, the pairing of a high-profile lead with a compact, twist-driven story makes this one to watch for fans of smart mysteries and dark comedies. Expect more announcements as the project moves from development into production.
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Hello, I’m Beckett. I cover series and show news for you to make your evenings more captivating.