Oscar nominees Melissa McCarthy (Can You Ever Forgive Me?) and Clive Owen (Closer) will star in a Paramount+ limited series about the murder of JonBenet Ramsey. McCarthy will star as JonBenet’s mother, Patsy, and Owen is set to play JonBenet’s dad, John Bennett Ramsey.
The eight-episode limited series, currently titled JonBenét Ramsey, has Oscar nominee Richard LaGravenese on board as writer, executive producer, and showrunner.
“JonBenét Ramsey explores the tragic unsolved murder of six-year-old beauty queen JonBenét Ramsey. It follows the Ramsey family, before and after the tragedy as they go through the painful loss of a child while facing intense public scrutiny caused by a media frenzy that caused this case to captivate an entire nation,” reads Paramount+’s synopsis. “At the heart of the series, it is the story of Patsy and John Ramsey – exploring the unbreakable partnership of these two complex people – as husband and wife, as mother and father – who had committed themselves and their children to building the narrative of a perfect, privileged life only to have it destroyed one Christmas night in 1996.”
Additional executive producers include McCarthy, David C. Glasser, Ron Burkle, Bob Yari, David Hutkin, and Anne Sewitsky.
“Melissa McCarthy and Clive Owen are an extraordinary duo to delve into this tragic story that has cast a long, haunting shadow over American culture for nearly three decades,” stated Chris McCarthy, Paramount Global Co-CEO and President/CEO, Showtime & MTV Entertainment Studios.
“JonBenét Ramsey continues to be one of the country’s most fascinating unsolved murders,” said Jeff Grossman, Executive Vice President, Programming, Paramount+. “The incredible talent of Melissa McCarthy, Clive Owen, and the creative team led by Richard LaGravenese will illuminate her story with the acuity and nuance it deserves.”
In addition to LaGravense, Harrison Query and Tommy Wallach will serve as executive producers. Anne Sewitsky (Presumed Innocent) will direct four of the eight episodes, including the first episode. Sewitsky is also an executive producer. The limited series is produced by MTV Entertainment Studios and 101 Studios.
“We have been working to bring this thought-provoking and bold project to audiences for some time now and could not be happier with the top-notch team working in front of and behind the camera,” said David Glasser, CEO of 101 Studios.
This post was last modified on February 5, 2026 11:51 am