A star of the late, lamented Based on a True Story is heading up a new crime thriller that sounds like something right up their alley!
It’s a sad fact that some excellent TV shows never catch on with audiences for short runs. That’s especially true in the streaming era with so much content, and such a fate happened to Peacock’s Based on a True Story.
The dramedy focused on Ava (Kaley Cuoco) and Nathan (Chris Messina), who discover their neighbor Matt (Tom Bateman) is a serial killer. The pair decides to use him to start a podcast and get famous, only to learn the hard way that working with a killer isn’t a smart move.
The show mixed dark comedy with some intriguing twists, with the second season ending on a big cliffhanger. Sadly, Peacock canceled the series, leaving that ending unsolved.
Thankfully, Cuoco isn’t giving up on the crime genre, as Variety reports she’s joining a new crime thriller that sounds like a perfect fit for the actress!
What is Vanished about?
Cuoco will star in Vanished, a new mystery thriller for MGM+. Created by David Hilton and Preston Thompson, the series co-stars Sam Claflin of Peaky Blinders fame as he and Cuoco play a couple involved in a dark conspiracy.
Take a look at the logline:
“When a couple’s trip to Paris takes a dark turn with the sudden disappearance of her boyfriend Tom (Claflin) aboard a train to the south of France, Alice (Cuoco) is plunged into a web of intrigue and danger, uncovering shocking secrets about the man she thought she knew.”
The cast also includes Karin Viard, Matthias Schweighöfer, Simon Abkarian and Dar Zuzovsky. Michael Wright, the head of MGM+ issued a statement on the show.
“We are thrilled to make MGM+ the home for ‘Vanished’ in the U.S..This exciting and surprising mystery thriller features an exceptional cast, led by Kaley Cuoco and Sam Claflin, and unfolds against the stunning, cinematic backdrop of France. ‘Vanished’ is a perfect fit with the MGM+ brand that showcases classic Hollywood storytelling for a modern audience.”
“Securing ‘Vanished’ for our international audience represents another significant step as we transform MGM+ into a premium global service,” said Michael Katzer, head of MGM+ Intl. “This captivating series exemplifies the elevated and immersive storytelling that we are bringing to customers worldwide.”
This wouldn’t be Cuoco’s first time in such a thriller series. While she’s most famous for playing Penny in The Big Bang Theory, Cuoco also starred in the HBO dramedy The Flight Attendant as a self-destructive woman caught in a global crime operation that put her in big danger.
This role sounds more dramatic than Cuoco’s last TV efforts, which can be a departure for her. However, the actress has proven herself in a series about a woman falling into danger and her star power should help elevate Vanished into a fun show when it premieres in 2026.
Based On a True Story is currently streaming on Peacock.
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