There are too many true-crime TV shows and movies to watch these days, said no one ever. On March 20, Hulu is set to roll out the first two episodes of its new true-crime series, The Act. Kicking off your next TV obsession is the tragic and disturbing story of Dee Dee Blanchard and her daughter, Gypsy Rose. In 2015, Gypsy was sentenced to 10 years in prison for the murder of Dee Dee, who raised Gypsy as terminally ill and kept her in a wheelchair for most of her childhood until Dee Dee was found dead at their home in Springfield, Missouri.
Here’s what you need to know:
The show is based on a 2016 BuzzFeed investigative piece
While Dee Dee’s murder and Gypsy’s trial occurred in 2015, their story did not go viral until 2016 with the publication of Michelle Dean’s article, which went into detail about the roles Gypsy and her boyfriend played in Dee Dee’s death. (Dean is also an executive producer and writer for The Act season 1.)
Gypsy was missing when Dee Dee’s body was discovered but was found alive and well the next day in Wisconsin with Nick Godejohn, whom she met online. Both were later charged, Nick for stabbing Dee Dee to death and Gypsy for aiding.
Brownie Harris | HuluJoey King as Gypsy Rose Blanchard in The Act.
Patricia Arquette and Joey King play Dee Dee and Gypsy, respectively
The actresses joined the cast in September 2018 and subsequently began shooting. Yes, this explains why Joey has been rocking a shorter haircut since the fall.
Chloë Sevigny and AnnaSophia Robb also have supporting roles as the Blanchards’ neighbors in Springfield, Missouri. Canadian actor Calum Worthy (Dez on the Disney Channel series Austin & Ally) will play Nick.
The Act is a new anthology true-crime series from Hulu
This means there will only be one season of the Dee Dee and Gypsy Rose Blanchard story. But like recent true-crime anthologies, expect the show to pick up even more sensational stories in future seasons.
Brownie Harris | HuluPatricia Arquette as Dee Dee Blanchard in The Act.
A full-length trailer arrived in March 2019
Bookended by Gypsy’s appearance in court, the nearly two-minute trailer gives a stunning look at Dee Dee’s treatment of her daughter, the growing skepticism from doctors, Gypsy and Nick’s online relationship, and Dee Dee tying Gypsy to her bedpost as punishment.
Hulu
Hulu previously released a teaser in February.
Hulu
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