Happy Face | |
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Genre | |
Inspired by |
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Developed by |
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Showrunner | Jennifer Cacicio |
Written by | Jennifer Cacicio |
Starring | |
Country of origin | United States |
Original language | English |
Production | |
Executive producers |
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Production location | Canada |
Production companies | |
Original release | |
Network | Paramount+ |
Happy Face is an upcoming American true crime drama television series. It is an adaptation of the iHeartPodcasts 2018 true-crime podcast Happy Face by Melissa Moore, and her 2009 autobiography Shattered Silence, co-written with M. Bridget Cook.
It stars Dennis Quaid in the titular role, alongside Annaleigh Ashford, James Wolk and David Harewood. It is set to stream globally on Paramount+ in 2025.
In September 2020, it was reported that Jennifer Cacicio, Robert and Michelle King were developing for CBS All Access a series based on Melissa Moore's true-crime podcast Happy Face, and her autobiography Shattered Silence, co-written with M. Bridget Cook. Moore is the daughter of Keith Hunter Jesperson, the Happy Face killer. [3]
In October 2021, Paramount+ greenlit the series written by Jennifer Cacicio and produced by CBS Studios in association with King Size Productions, iHeartPodcasts and Semi-Formal Productions. [4] Michael Showalter also executive produced and directed the first episode. [5]
In February 2024, Dennis Quaid signed on to play the Happy Face killer and Annaleigh Ashford to play his daughter Melissa Moore. [5] The following month, James Wolk and Tamera Tomakili were cast to play Melissa's husband and Ivy, respectively. [6] [7] David Harewood signed on to play Dr. Greg, star of the daytime health and talk show, The Dr. Greg Show. [1]
Principal photography took place in Vancouver between March 19, 2024 and June 19. [8] [1] Some scenes were shot in May at New Westminster City Hall, in place of Texas. [9]
Happy Face is set to be released with eight episodes globally in 2025 on Paramount+ through Paramount Global Content Distribution. [5]
Dennis William Quaid is an American actor. He is known for his starring roles in Breaking Away (1979), The Right Stuff (1983), The Big Easy (1986), Innerspace (1987), Great Balls of Fire! (1989), Dragonheart (1996), The Parent Trap (1998), Frequency (2000), The Rookie (2002), The Day After Tomorrow (2004), In Good Company (2004), Flight of the Phoenix (2004), Yours, Mine & Ours (2005), and Vantage Point (2008). Quaid received a Golden Globe Award nomination for his role in Far from Heaven (2002). In 2009, The Guardian named him one of the best actors never to have received an Academy Award nomination.
Keith Hunter Jesperson is a Canadian-American serial killer who murdered at least eight women in the United States during the early 1990s. He was known as the Happy Face Killer because he drew smiley faces on his many letters to the media and authorities. Many of Jesperson's victims were sex workers and transients who had no connection to him. Strangulation was his preferred method of murdering, the same method he often used to kill animals as a child.
Annaleigh Ashford is an American actress, singer, and dancer. Her early roles on Broadway include in the musicals Wicked (2007), Legally Blonde (2007), and Hair (2010). She received the Tony Award for Best Featured Actress in a Play for playing Essie Carmichael in You Can't Take It With You (2014–2015). Her other Tony-nominated roles include Lauren in Kinky Boots (2013) and Mrs. Lovett in Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street (2023). She also starred in the Broadway revival of Sunday in the Park with George (2017).
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