Paramount+ has set a March premiere date and released the first trailer for ‘Happy Face‘, a serial killer drama inspired by the Happy Face True-Crime Podcast, about a daughter who discovers her father is a prolific serial killer.
inspired by the true-life story of Melissa G. Moore, at 15, Moore discovered that her beloved father was the prolific serial killer known as Happy Face. As an adult, she has changed her name and guarded her secret while her father has been serving life in prison.
Jumping off from Moore’s true-life story, the series follows Melissa and her incarcerated father, known as the Happy Face Killer. After decades of no contact, he finally finds a way to force himself back into his daughter’s life. In a race against the clock, Melissa must find out if an innocent man is going to be put to death for a crime her father committed. Throughout, she discovers the impact her father had on his victims’ families and must face a reckoning of her own identity.
The drama stars Emmy-nominated and Tony Award-winning actress Annaleigh Ashford as Melissa, with Emmy Award and two-time Golden Globe-nominated actor Dennis Quaid as “Happy Face”. They are joined by series regulars James Wolk, Tamera Tomakili, Khiyla Aynne and Benjamin Mackey.
‘Happy Face’ is produced by CBS Studios in association with King Size Productions, iHeartPodcasts and Semi-Formal Productions. Jennifer Cacicio (Your Honor, Shooter) serves as showrunner for the series and executive producer alongside Robert and Michelle King, Liz Glotzer, Melissa G. Moore, Conal Byrne, Will Pearson, Michael Showalter and Jordana Mollick. Michael Showalter (The Dropout, The Eyes of Tammy Faye) also directed the first episode. The series is distributed by Paramount Global Content Distribution.
‘Happy Face‘ premieres Thursday, 20th March 2025 with two episodes, exclusively on Paramount+ in the US, UK, and other international markets.
