Evil Genius (film)

Evil Genius is an upcoming American independent crime thriller film directed and co-produced by Courteney Cox, based on the true-crime documentary series of the same name by Barbara Schroeder and Trey Borzillieri. The film stars Patricia Arquette and David Harbour with Michael Chernus, Garret Dillahunt, Danielle Macdonald, Tom McCarthy, Gregory Alan Williams, Ryan Eggold, Owen Teague and Harlow Jane in supporting roles.

The film will tell the story of the death of Brian Wells, a high-profile 2003 incident often referred to as the "collar bomb" or "pizza bomber" case.^[1] The FBI investigation into his death uncovered a complex plot described as "one of the most complicated and bizarre crimes in the annals of the FBI".^[2]

• Patricia Arquette
• David Harbour
• Michael Chernus
• Garret Dillahunt
• Danielle Macdonald
• Tom McCarthy
• Gregory Alan Williams
• Ryan Eggold
• Owen Teague
• Harlow Jane

In November 2025, the film's title Evil Genius was announced, it would be directed and co-produced by Courteney Cox and starring Patricia Arquette and David Harbour, based on the true-crime documentary series of the same name by Barbara Schroeder and Trey Borzillieri.^[3] Deadline Hollywood confirmed that August Night would finance and produce the film with Jason Bateman, Michael Costigan and John Buderwitz under their Aggregate Films banner. While Michael Chernus, Garret Dillahunt, Danielle Macdonald, Tom McCarthy, Gregory Alan Williams, Ryan Eggold, Owen Teague, and Harlow Jane joined the cast in supporting roles.^[3]

Principal photography began in November 2025, in New Jersey.^[3]

• 30 Minutes or Less (2011) – An action comedy film that garnered some controversy due to similarities with the death of Brian Wells. Despite the similarities to the case, Sony Pictures Motion Picture Group said the filmmakers and cast had no prior knowledge of the incident, while the screenwriters were "vaguely familiar" with it.
• PVC-1 (2007)

• Evil Genius at IMDb