According to Deadline, Clive Owen (King Arthur, Children of Men) and Melissa McCarthy (The Heat, Ghostbusters) have been cast in Paramount+’s newest limited series following the story of JonBenét Ramsey. The series will be produced by 101 Studios and MTV Entertainment Studios.
With the working title for the series set as JonBenét Ramsey, the show will recall the unsolved murder of six-year-old JonBenét Ramsey. The show will follow mother Patsy and father John “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,” according to Deadline. The crux of the series will be Patsy and John’s relationship before and after JonBenét’s murder on Christmas in 1996.
Owen will star as John Bennett Ramsey, and McCarthy will star as Patsy Ramsey. Paramount Global Co-CEO and CEO of Showtime & MTV Entertainment Studios, Chris McCarthy (Out of Iraq, The T Word), commented on the casting, saying, “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” via Deadline.
Additionally, Executive Vice President of Programming at Paramount+, Jeff Grossman (Dirty Shield, Hotel Chelsea), praised Owen and McCarthy’s talents, saying, “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,” per Deadline.
Richard LaGravenese (Freedom Writers, A Family Affair) is a writer for JonBenét Ramsey, along with Harrison Query (Three Musketeers, War Party) and Tommy Wallach (We All Looked Up, Delilah), who successfully sold the series pitch, according to Deadline. Executive producers for the series include Melissa McCarthy, Ron Burke (Dallas, Pontiac Moon), David C. Glasser (Yellowstone, 1883), David Hutkin (Lioness, The Agency) and Bob Yari (Crash, Mayor of Kingstown).
JonBenét Ramsey is set to begin production soon in Calgary, Canada, with LaGravenese as showrunner via Deadline.