Paramount+ casts Annaleigh Ashford in crime series Happy Face

Paramount+'s crime series Happy Face enters production starring Emmy-nominated and Tony-winning actress Annaleigh Ashford. Michael Showalter (The Dropout, The Shrink Next Door) has been tapped to direct the first episode of the CBS Studios-produced series, from executive producers Jennifer Cacicio – who also serves as showrunner – and Robert and Michelle King. The eight-episode first season will begin filming this year and premiere on Paramount+ in 2025.



Happy Face reunites Ashford (pictured) with the Kings after guest-starring on their other two original series from Paramount+/CBS Studios – the current hit Evil and the recently completed The Good Fight.

The CBS Studios-produced Happy Face is inspired by the true story of Melissa Moore, the Happy Face podcast by iHeartPodcasts and Moore and the autobiography Shattered Silence, written by Moore with M. Bridget Cook.

At the age of fifteen, Moore discovered that her beloved father was the prolific serial killer known as "Happy Face." As an adult, the former employee of Dr. Oz changed her name and kept her secret while her father served a life sentence in prison.

Ashford will play the lead role of Melissa. Melissa's father contacts her to take credit for another victim, drawing her into an extraordinary investigation into her father and his crimes. As she discovers the impact her father had on the families of his victims, she must confront her own identity.

Cacicio, Robert and Michelle King, Liz Glotzer, Melissa Moore, Conal Byrne, Will Pearson, Showalter and Jordana Mollick direct. Happy Face is produced by CBS Studios in association with King Size Productions, iHeartPodcasts and Semi-Formal Productions. The series, which was put into development by Paramount+ predecessor CBS All Access in 2020 and went to series in 2021, is distributed by Paramount Global Content Distribution.

Ashford recently wrapped production on Searchlight Pictures' upcoming horror thriller Dust, starring Sarah Paulson. She has been nominated for an Emmy for her performance opposite Kumail Nanjiani in the Hulu limited series Welcome to Chippendales. Ashford played Paula Jones in Impeachment: American Crime Story and starred in the CBS comedy series B Positive.