Devil in Disguise: John Wayne Gacy
| Devil in Disguise: John Wayne Gacy | |
|---|---|
| Genre | True crime drama |
| Created by | Patrick Macmanus |
| Starring | |
| Country of origin | United States |
| Original language | English |
| No. of episodes | 8 |
| Production | |
| Executive producers |
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| Production companies |
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| Original release | |
| Network | Peacock |
| Release | October 16, 2025 |
Devil in Disguise: John Wayne Gacy is an eight-episode, American true crime drama miniseries that premiered on October 16, 2025, on Peacock. It dramatizes the life and crimes of serial killer John Wayne Gacy, who murdered dozens of young men and boys during the 1970s. In the United Kingdom, the series premiered on ITVX in January 2026.[1][2]
Plot
The series examines the life of John Wayne Gacy, a respected community member who was convicted of sodomy after he sexually assaulted 15-year-old Donald Voorhees Jr., and who was later discovered to be a serial killer who raped, tortured and murdered at least thirty-three young men and boys between 1972 and 1978 in Norwood Park Township, a suburb of Chicago, Illinois. The series explores the investigation leading to his capture, the lives of his victims, and the grief their families endured. Beyond detailing Gacy's crimes, the series examines systemic failures, societal prejudices, and missed opportunities that allowed him to evade detection for years.
Cast
- Michael Chernus as John Wayne Gacy
- Gabriel Luna as Det. Rafael Tovar
- James Badge Dale as Joe Kozenczak
- Michael Angarano as Sam Amirante
- Chris Sullivan as Bill Kunkle
- Marin Ireland as Elizabeth Piest
- Augustus Prew as Jeffrey Rignall
- Brandon McEwan as Phillip Paske
- Ryker Baloun as Robert Piest
- Cricket Brown as Kerry Piest
- Thom Nyhuus as Kenneth Piest
Production
Devil in Disguise: John Wayne Gacy is based on the similarly named 2021 Peacock docuseries John Wayne Gacy: Devil in Disguise. The 2025 series shifts focus from the killer himself to the impact on his victims and the investigation that brought him to justice. Showrunner Patrick Macmanus emphasized the importance of highlighting the victims rather than sensationalizing Gacy.[3]
Episodes
| No. | Title | Directed by | Written by | Original release date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | "Ten Days" | Larysa Kondracki | Patrick Macmanus | October 16, 2025 |
| 2 | "Johnny" | Ashley Michel Hoban | Gregory Locklear | October 16, 2025 |
| 3 | "Samuel and Randy" | Maggie Kiley | Matthew White | October 16, 2025 |
| 4 | "Billy" | Maggie Kiley | Yasmin Almanaseer | October 16, 2025 |
| 5 | "Billy and Dale" | Bille Woodruff | Sebastián Rea | October 16, 2025 |
| 6 | "Tim, John and Rob" | Larysa Kondracki | Ashley Michel Hoban | October 16, 2025 |
| 7 | "David" | Bille Woodruff | Ahmadu Garba | October 16, 2025 |
| 8 | "Jeffrey" | Patrick Macmanus | Gregory Locklear & Matthew White | October 16, 2025 |
Reception
On the review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes, 96% of 23 critics' reviews are positive. The website's consensus reads, "Devil in Disguise: John Wayne Gacy offers a compassionate, morally clear reexamination of the infamous killer's crimes that honors victims and finds fresh purpose in retelling their stories."[4] Metacritic, which uses a weighted average, assigned a score of 76 out of 100, based on 12 critics, indicating "generally favorable" reviews.[5]
Accolades
| Award | Date of ceremony | Category | Nominee(s) | Result | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Astra Creative Arts Awards | December 11, 2025 | Best Hairstyling - Television | Devil in Disguise: John Wayne Gacy | Nominated | [6] |
| Best Main Title Design - Television | Nominated | ||||
| Best Makeup - Television | Won | ||||
| Critics' Choice Television Awards | January 4, 2026 | Best Limited Series | Nominated | [7] | |
| Best Actor in a Limited Series or Movie Made For Television | Michael Chernus | Nominated | |||
| Best Supporting Actress in a Limited Series or Movie Made For Television | Marin Ireland | Nominated |
References
- ^ Henry, Grace (January 30, 2026). "Devil in Disguise: John Wayne Gacy cast and real-life people they play, including Severance's Michael Chernus". Cosmopolitan. Retrieved January 31, 2026.
- ^ "Devil in Disguise: John Wayne Gacy". ITV. Retrieved January 31, 2026.
- ^ Maxwell, Erin (October 13, 2025). "'Devil in Disguise': Showrunner Says Gacy Series Reveals How Prejudice Leads to Violence & Systemic Failure". TV Insider. Retrieved October 22, 2025.
- ^ "Devil in Disguise: John Wayne Gacy: Season 1". Rotten Tomatoes. Retrieved December 23, 2025.
- ^ "Devil in Disguise: John Wayne Gacy: Season 1". Metacritic. Retrieved October 28, 2025.
- ^ "'Sinners' and 'Stranger Things' Lead with the Most Nominations for the 2025 Astra Creative Arts Awards" (Press release). The Astras. November 19, 2025. Retrieved January 12, 2026.
- ^ Lewis, Hilary (December 5, 2025). "Critics Choice Awards Nominations: 'Sinners' Leads With 17 Nods". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved January 12, 2026.