Peacock Slates New True-Crime Drama Limited Series

Peacock has given a straight-to-series order to A Friend of the Family, a true-crime drama limited series from Nick Antosca (The Act, Channel Zero).

A Friend of the Family is based on the stranger-than-fiction story of Jan Broberg, who was kidnapped multiple times over a period of years by a charismatic, obsessed family friend. Anna Paquin (Flack, The Irishman, True Blood), Jake Lacy (The White Lotus, Being the Ricardos), Colin Hanks (The Offer, Impeachment: American Crime Story) and Lio Tipton (The Edge of Sleep, Why Women Kill) star.

Antosca, who will serve as showrunner, writer and executive producer on the series, will produce under his production banner Eat the Cat via his overall deal with UCP, a division of Universal Studio Group. Eliza Hittman (Never Rarely Sometimes Always) is set to direct and executive produce multiple episodes. Jan Broberg and Mary Ann Broberg will also serve as producers.

Lisa Katz, president of scripted content for NBCUniversal Television and Streaming, said: “Nick Antosca has created a compelling series in A Friend of the Family that explores one family’s unimaginable experience with great insight and sensitivity. We can’t wait to see Anna Paquin, Jake Lacy, Colin Hanks and Lio Tipton bring these complex characters to life, and we know Peacock audiences will connect with this incredible story of deception and resilience.”

Beatrice Springborn, president of UCP, said: “Alongside Jan and Mary Ann Broberg, Nick and Alex have brought humanity to a delicate and haunting story. As he demonstrated with The Act, and now with this series, Nick treats real people not as caricatures but as complex and layered. We’re proud to bring that quality and care in storytelling to Peacock.”