Prime Video has officially greenlit a new mystery series titled Everyone in My Family Has Killed Someone. Starring Penn Badgley, the show adapts the bestselling novels of Benjamin Stevenson into a dark comeedy set during a deadly family gathering in Vermont.
Penn Badgley trades Joe Goldberg for Ern Cunningham
The casting of Penn Badgley as Ern Cunningham marks a calculated move by Prime Video to leverage the actor's history with complex, morally ambiguous protagonists. As reported by the source,Badgley is widely recognized for his lead roles in You and Gossip Girl, both of which featured characters who operated from the shadows of social and psychological manipulation. in this new series, Badgley will portray a mystery-writing expert, a role that allows him to lean into the analytical and observant persona he has perfected over the last decade.
Ern Cunningham is not a traditional hero; he is a man returning to a family reunion under a cloud of resentment. According to the report, Ern previously helped convict his own brother, Michael, which sets a foundation of familial betrayal and tension before the first body even drops.. This dynamic suggests that the series will focus as much on the psychological warfare between siblings as it does on the central murder mystery.
David Hemingson brings 'Holdovers' pedigree to Prime Video
The production is anchored by David Hemingson, who serves as both showrunner and executive producer. Hemingson is an Oscar-nominated screenwriter best known for The Holdovers, a film praised for its precise balance of melancholy and wit. his involvement suggests that Everyone in My Family Has Killed Someone will avoid the tropes of generic police procedurals in favor of a more sophisticated, character-driven comedic tone.
By placing an Oscar-caliber writer at the helm, Prime Video is positioning this series as a prestige offering rather than a standard streaming thriller. The "darkly comedic" label mentioned in the source aligns with Hemingson's established style, promising a narrative where the absurdity of the family's collective murderous history provides the primary source of humor.
A snow-trapped reunion in Vermont's Northeast Kingdom
The setting of the series is as much a character as the cast. The story takes place deep within the mountains of Vermont's Northeast Kingdom, a region known for its rugged isolation. As the source reports, a severe snowstorm traps the characters inside, creating a "closed-circle" mystery environment where the suspects are limited to those within the house.
This atmospheric choice echoes the classic "locked room" mysteries popularized by Agatha Christie, but with a modern, cynical twist: the premise reveals that every single member of the family has committed a killing , whether intentional or accidental. This setup transforms the typical whodunnit into a "who-did-this-particular-one," adding a layer of irony to the investigation led by Ern Cunningham.
The shift from HBO to Prime Video's mystery slate
One of the most notable aspects of the production is its migration between streaming giants. The project was initially developed at HBO before moving to Prime Video.. This shift reflects a broader industry trend where high-concept adaptations are frequently shopped around to find the platform most willing to commit to a specific tonal vision—in this case, a blend of high-brow comedy and crime.
Prime Video has recently leaned into genre-bending content, and the acquisition of Benjamin Stevenson's work fits this strategy. By securing a project with an established book fanbase and a bankable star like Penn Badgley, Prime Video is attempting to capture the same audience that propelled Knives Out and Glass Onion to mainstream success.
Which supporting roles remain unfilled?
While the lead is secured, several key details remain unverified. The source does not name the actor who will play Michael, the brother returning from prison, nor does it list the rest of the murderous family members who will populate the Vermont estate. given the enesmble nature of the source novels, the casting of these supporting roles will be critical to the show's chemistry.
Furthermore, it remains unclear how much of Benjamin Stevenson's unique narrative voice—which often involves the narrator addressing the reader directly about the "rules" of mystery writing—will be translated to the screen. Whether the series will maintain this meta-commentary or stick to a traditional linear plot is a question that Prime Video has yet to answer.
Comments 0