The second season of Peacock’s true crime anthology series has found its leading man. Edgar Ramirez (The Undoing, ACS: The Assassination of Gianni Versace) has been cast as the lead in the second installment of Dr. Death, via Deadline. The series will be based on the third season of the Dr. Death original podcast produced by Wondery. The first season aired in the summer of 2021.
According to Deadline, Ramirez will portray innovative surgeon Paolo Macchiarini whose remarkable techniques in organ transplant procedures made him a household name in the medical community. However, his charismatic persona and trusted surgical methods are called into question by colleagues and his fiancé, Benita Alexander. As Alexander dives deeper into the man she is set to marry, she becomes fearful of how far Macchiarini will go to protect his version of the truth.
While season one had writer and executive producer Patrick Macmanus (The Girl from Plainville, NCIS) serve as showrunner, Deadline reports that season two will be helmed by Ashley Micahel Hoban (Happy, UnChartered). Macmanus will remain as an executive producer through his Littleton Road Productions. The eight-episode installment will have two directors: actress Jennifer Morrison (This Is Us, Once Upon A Time) will direct the first four episodes, with Laura Belsey (Moonhaven, The Flash) set to direct the last four.
Season one of Dr. Death starred Joshua Jackson (Little Fires Everywhere, Cruel Intentions) as former Texas spine surgeon, Christopher Duntsch. Duntsch built a successful career and reputation throughout the state, eventually opening his own practice. But underneath Duntsch’s southern boy charm was an insecure fraud who accumulated an array of malpractice lawsuits and accusations of intentional negligence that went ignored for far too long. It would take years and a patient’s unfortunate death for two colleagues – portrayed by Christian Slater (Mr. Robot, Willow) and Alec Baldwin (30 Rock, The Departed) – to not only permanently revoke Duntsch’s license but bring charges against him. The season not only delved into Duntsch’s harmful habits but examined the lack of accountability held for doctors in alleged negligent cases.
The first season of Dr. Death can be streamed exclusively on Peacock.