True crime lovers, a new drama series from Paramount+ will follow the story of a notorious killer known as the Happy Face Killer. With a new trailer coming for the series starring Dennis Quaid as the killer Keith Hunter Jesperson, what can we expect when it comes in March?
The show itself will follow the story of Jesperson’s daughter, Melissa Moore, who discovered his horrific secret at the age of 15 and would go on to change her name to distance herself from his infamy. Alongside Quaid, actress and Tony winner Annaleigh Ashford will portray Moore.
What to expect in Happy Face
Per the synopsis, the killer dad manages to get his daughter to come see him after decades without speaking with one another. Due to the meeting, Moore must figure out if another man is about to receive the death penality for a murder her father committed.
The series will follow Moore as she discovers how the murders affected the family members of his victims. Plus, it will also lead her to “face a reckoning of her own identity.” Inspiration came from Moore’s book she wrote called “Shattered Silence” about growing up as the daughter of a serial killer. She also has a podcast called Life After Happy Face on iTunes.
The real-life Jesperson is being held in an Oregon penitentiary, after receiving a life sentence for the murders of eight women. He got his moniker from the letters he would send to media outlets and authorities that contained a smiley face. His murder spree began in the early '90s before he was ultimately apprehended in 1995. While he has eight identified victims, he claimed to have murdered over 100 victims.
Happy Face trailer gives us a chilling look at the series
In the trailer for the series, we can see Moore as she goes on a talk show to talk about her father before images allude to the journey she goes through. The series will run for eight episodes, with the first two set to drop on Thursday, March 20 before the rest of the episodes follow weekly.
Also starring in Happy Face are Benjamin Mackey, Tamera Tomakili, James Wolk, and Khiyla Aynne. Wolk portrays Moore’s husband in the series and he worries over whether Moore is being manipulated by her father.
Jennifer Cacicio is credited as the showrunner and executive producer. The pilot for the series was directed by Michael Showalter, who also serves as an executive producer alongside Liz Glotzer, and Robert and Michelle King.
You can watch the trailer below for Happy Face and stay tuned for its premiere on Paramount+ beginning Thursday, March 20, 2025.
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