Mr. Robot‘s Christian Slater is continuing his relationship with USA Network with a lead role in season two of Dirty John. Amanda Peet (The Romanoffs, Brockmire) has also signed up for the second season of the anthology series which will focus on convicted killer Betty Broderick.
“The first season of Dirty John was a story of twisted love and coercive control – and both these insidious elements are also present in and integral to the story of Betty Broderick, whom I have wanted to write about since I became a writer,” stated series creator Alexandra Cunningham. “I can’t wait to see Amanda and Christian bring it to life.”
Per USA Network’s official announcement, Peet will star as Betty Broderick, “the perfect Southern California blonde wife and mother. Married to her handsome college boyfriend Dan, played by Slater, Betty charms everyone she meets. After years of sacrifice and suffering while supporting Dan through both medical and law school until he exploded into the San Diego legal community as a superstar, Betty is finally enjoying the fruits of their labors. That is, until Dan hires Linda, a bright, beautiful young woman without baggage with whom he can happily forget the struggles of his past.
Betty’s attempts to fight back and enraged refusals to accept reality only serve to isolate and destabilize her until she loses her very identity. And Dan’s cold confidence blinds him to the bear he has created, and won’t stop poking … until it’s too late.”
Season two, titled Dirty John: The Betty Broderick Story, is currently in production in Los Angeles. Alexandra Cunningham is writing season two and serves as an executive producer with Jessica Rhoades (The Affair, Sharp Objects), season one star Connie Britton, Atlas Entertainment, and Los Angeles Times Studios.
Maggie Kiley (Riverdale) is on board to direct four episodes, including the season two premiere. Kat Candler (Queen Sugar), Meera Menon (The Terror), Shannon Kohli (The Magicians) and series showrunner Cunningham are also confirmed to direct. (The project marks Cunningham’s directorial debut.)
Season one starring Eric Bana and Connie Britton was the second highest rated new cable scripted series of 2018 among adults 18 to 49. USA Network reports it also had the largest increase in ratings from the season premiere to the finale.
