Based on a True Story is based on (or partly inspired by) a true story. The series, which is a satire on true crime, introduced Cuoco and Messina as Ava and Nathan, an unhappy couple who cross paths with a notorious serial killer, The Westside Ripper, in Los Angeles. Ava, a pregnant true-crime obsessive, suggested they make a podcast with the killer as a way out of their marital rut.
Now, following the events of season one, season two opens with Ava and Nathan as new parents now trying to get out of the true-crime game - but, as the trailer shows, those aspirations are fleeting. The season opens with Ava and Nathan struggling to find a balance between parenting and breaking free from their obsession. But their close ties to the Westside Ripper (spoiler alert!) make that almost impossible.
All eight episodes of the 30-minute dark comedy series will be released on Peacock on Thursday, November 21.
For season two, Physical creator Annie Weisman takes over as showrunner; creator Craig Rosenberg remains executive producer. Melissa Fumero is joining the series in what is being described as a surprise new role.
“I first discovered Based on a True Story as a fan of Kaley Cuoco and Chris Messina, and I instantly loved the show’s addictive blend of dark humor, pulpy action and relatable characters,” said Weisman in a statement when joining the series. “In season two, we’ve built on those exciting themes while introducing propulsive new character dynamics and a forward-moving murder mystery.”
Here’s the logline: “Season two finds new parents Ava and Nathan Bartlett three months into parenthood. Focused on taking care of her family, Ava is determined to resist her true-crime obsession and return to work as a real estate agent while Nathan trains private tennis clients. But a series of new murders pulls her back in – is Matt (Bateman) behind the slayings? Is Tory (Liberato), now entangled in a relationship with Matt, in danger? For a while, life is good — Ava’s TikTok habit and her new friend Drew (Fumero) provide a welcome distraction, and Nathan’s all in on reigniting his tennis career as well as his friendship with Matt — until danger comes knocking, literally.”
The cast also includes Priscilla Quintana, Natalia Dyer, Alex Alomar Akpobome, Aisha Alfa, Annabelle Dexter-Jones, Li Jun Li, June Diane Raphael, Brandon Keener, Jessica St. Clair, Claire Holt, Miles Mussenden, Sebastian Quinn, Belmont Cameli , Aaron Staton, Timm Sharp, Yvonne Senat Jones, Lizze Broadway and Ever Carradine.
Showrunner Weisman is writer-executive producer; Jaclyn Moore is writer-executive producer and Alex Buono is director-executive producer. Also executive producing are Jason Bateman and Michael Costigan for Aggregate Films, Rosenberg and stars Cuoco and Messina. Based on a True Story is produced by UCP, a division of Universal Studio Group.
