The acclaimed actor Penn Badgley, best known for his chilling portrayal of Joe Goldberg in Netflix’s You, is set to delve back into the dark and intricate world of murder, this time for Prime Video. Badgley will topline the upcoming series adaptation of Benjamin Stevenson’s bestselling novel, Everyone in My Family Has Killed Someone. The project has officially received a series order from the streaming giant, signaling a significant investment in a darkly comedic murder mystery that promises to captivate audiences.
The series hails from showrunner David Hemingson, a seasoned writer and producer whose recent credits include the critically lauded film The Holdovers. The production is a collaborative effort between Fifth Season and Made Up Stories, two production companies with a strong track record in developing compelling narrative content. The announcement marks a significant development in the adaptation of Stevenson’s popular literary work, which has already spawned a successful series of novels featuring the enigmatic Ernest Cunningham.
From Page to Screen: The Genesis of the Adaptation
Benjamin Stevenson’s Everyone in My Family Has Killed Someone first hit bookshelves in 2022, quickly establishing itself as a standout in the crowded mystery genre. The novel’s unique premise, blending sharp wit with genuine suspense, resonated with readers and critics alike, paving the way for its translation into a television series. The book’s success is underscored by its status as the first in a planned series of Ernest Cunningham mysteries, with the author already working on the fifth installment. This established literary foundation provides a rich narrative tapestry for the Prime Video adaptation.
The decision by Prime Video to greenlight a full series order signifies a strong belief in the project’s potential. This commitment often follows a rigorous development process, which would have included script evaluations, casting considerations, and market analysis. The involvement of established production entities like Fifth Season and Made Up Stories, known for their commitment to quality storytelling, further bolsters the project’s prospects.
Penn Badgley: A Natural Fit for a Complex Role
Penn Badgley’s casting as Ernest Cunningham is a strategic choice that leverages his established on-screen persona. His performance as Joe Goldberg in You has cemented his reputation as an actor capable of portraying characters with a complex and often unsettling duality. Goldberg, a charming yet psychopathic stalker and murderer, has captivated a massive global audience, demonstrating Badgley’s ability to navigate the nuances of morally ambiguous characters.
In Everyone in My Family Has Killed Someone, Badgley will embody Ernest Cunningham, a self-proclaimed "mystery-writing expert" who finds himself entangled in a real-life murder investigation. The logline for the series highlights the inherent irony and dark humor of the premise: Ernest travels to Vermont for a family reunion, ostensibly to welcome his brother Michael home from prison – a brother Ernest himself helped convict. The situation escalates dramatically when a frozen body is discovered, and a snowstorm traps the entire family indoors, leading to a cascade of further deaths. The central conceit, as the title suggests, is that every member of Ernest’s family has a history of killing, whether by design or by accident.
Showrunner David Hemingson expressed his enthusiasm for Badgley’s involvement, stating, "And we are so lucky to have Penn as our lead. I can’t think of any actor better suited to bring Ern’s intensity, brilliance and hilariously dry sense of humor to life." This statement underscores the perceived synergy between Badgley’s acting capabilities and the demands of the character, suggesting that he is poised to deliver a performance that is both captivating and darkly comedic.
The Narrative Unfolds: A Family Reunion Turned Deadly
The series’ narrative will closely follow the arc of Stevenson’s novel, placing Ernest Cunningham at the heart of a perplexing mystery. His family reunion in Vermont, intended to mark a significant, albeit fraught, milestone for his brother, quickly devolves into a terrifying ordeal. The isolation imposed by the snowstorm serves as a classic trope in murder mysteries, creating a confined environment where suspicion can fester and every character becomes a potential suspect.
The inherent premise – that each family member has a history of killing – adds a unique layer of complexity and dark humor to the proceedings. It suggests a legacy of violence and a shared, perhaps inherited, propensity for death within the Cunningham clan. This familial context provides fertile ground for exploring themes of nature versus nurture, the psychological impact of secrets, and the blurred lines between guilt and innocence.
Ernest’s background as a "mystery-writing expert" further amplifies the intrigue. He is theoretically equipped to solve such a case, yet his own familial ties and the potential for his own complicity or knowledge create a deeply personal stake in the unfolding events. This meta-narrative layer, where the detective is also an author of detective fiction, offers opportunities for clever plotting and insightful commentary on the genre itself.
A Collaborative Vision: The Creative Team Behind the Series
The successful development and production of Everyone in My Family Has Killed Someone hinges on the collective vision of its creative team. David Hemingson, in his role as showrunner, will be instrumental in translating Stevenson’s novel into a compelling episodic format. His experience with The Holdovers suggests a deft hand at balancing emotional depth with sharp wit, qualities that are essential for this particular project.
The production is spearheaded by Bruna Papandrea, Steve Hutensky, and Jeanne Snow of Made Up Stories, alongside Molly Allen, Penn Badgley, and Benjamin Stevenson himself, who are all credited as executive producers. This diverse group of executive producers brings a range of expertise, from literary adaptation and character-driven storytelling to acting and intellectual property management.
Bruna Papandrea and Steve Hutensky of Made Up Stories expressed their excitement, stating, "We’ve found the perfect Ern in Penn and it’s a dream to be making this series with our amazing partners Amazon MGM Studios and Fifth Season." This sentiment is echoed by Stevenson, who conveyed his admiration for the team assembled to bring his work to life: "I am blown away by the vision and enthusiasm everyone has for bringing this book, and Ernest Cunningham, to the screen. Penn perfectly captures Ern’s clueyness and cleverness, and David has brought bags of wit and heart to the script. With the passion of Amazon MGM Studios, Bruna and Steve behind us we have an absolutely killer team, and I can’t wait to solve a murder with them."
Peter Friedlander, head of global TV at Amazon MGM Studios, further elaborated on the project’s appeal, describing it as "a brilliantly inventive series that subverts the murder mystery genre in the most unexpected and entertaining ways." He highlighted the "darkly funny and wickedly clever" world created by Stevenson, and the "sharp storytelling" of Hemingson, all amplified by Badgley’s "magnetic presence."
Supporting Data and Industry Context
The series order for Everyone in My Family Has Killed Someone arrives at a time when streaming platforms are actively seeking to diversify their content portfolios and attract broad audiences. The murder mystery genre, with its inherent suspense and potential for intricate plotting, has consistently proven to be a popular choice for viewers.
The success of Netflix’s You, which has consistently ranked among the platform’s most-watched series, demonstrates a strong audience appetite for dark thrillers featuring complex, often morally compromised, protagonists. Penn Badgley’s involvement in this new project directly taps into that established fan base.
Furthermore, the trend of adapting successful novels into television series continues to be a dominant strategy in the industry. Books like The Queen’s Gambit, The Handmaid’s Tale, and Big Little Lies have achieved critical and commercial acclaim, proving the viability of literary source material. Benjamin Stevenson’s Everyone in My Family Has Killed Someone represents another such opportunity to translate a beloved narrative into a visual medium.
The collaboration between major production entities and a global streaming service like Prime Video underscores the scale and ambition of modern television production. Fifth Season, formerly known as Endeavor Content, has been instrumental in developing and financing a wide range of critically acclaimed series and films. Made Up Stories, co-founded by Bruna Papandrea, has a strong reputation for producing female-led stories with significant cultural impact.
Broader Implications and Future Outlook
The series adaptation of Everyone in My Family Has Killed Someone has several potential implications for the involved parties and the broader entertainment landscape. For Prime Video, it represents another high-profile scripted series aimed at drawing and retaining subscribers. The platform has been actively investing in a diverse range of genres, and this murder mystery adds a distinct flavor to its programming slate.
For Penn Badgley, the role offers an opportunity to further explore his range as an actor, moving beyond the singular persona of Joe Goldberg while still engaging with the darker aspects of human nature. His commitment to the project suggests a genuine belief in the material and its potential.
For Benjamin Stevenson, the series adaptation is a significant validation of his literary work. The global reach of Prime Video provides an unprecedented platform for his creation, potentially introducing Ernest Cunningham and his uniquely dysfunctional family to a massive international audience. This could lead to increased sales of his existing novels and greater anticipation for future installments.
The success of this adaptation could also pave the way for further literary adaptations from Stevenson’s burgeoning Ernest Cunningham series. With four books already published and a fifth in development, the potential for a long-running franchise is substantial. The narrative structure of a mystery series, with its episodic nature and overarching character development, is well-suited for television.
The production itself will also generate economic activity within its filming locations, providing employment opportunities for cast and crew and contributing to the local economy. The industry will be closely watching the production for its adherence to creative integrity, its ability to translate the novel’s unique tone, and ultimately, its performance with audiences.
The creative team’s shared enthusiasm and the strong foundation of the source material suggest that Everyone in My Family Has Killed Someone is poised to be a significant addition to the television landscape. The confluence of a popular actor, a beloved novel, and a platform with a proven track record for ambitious storytelling creates a compelling recipe for success. The series promises to deliver the suspense, humor, and intricate plotting that fans of the murder mystery genre have come to expect, all while offering a fresh and darkly comedic take on the familiar tropes.
Conclusion
The series order for Everyone in My Family Has Killed Someone, starring Penn Badgley and showrun by David Hemingson, marks an exciting new chapter for Benjamin Stevenson’s popular novel. With a robust creative team, a captivating premise, and a proven star at its helm, the project is set to deliver a distinctive and entertaining murder mystery to Prime Video. The adaptation represents a significant opportunity for all involved, promising to bring the darkly hilarious and wickedly clever world of Ernest Cunningham to a global audience. The journey from page to screen has begun, and the anticipation for this "killer" series is palpable.
