'Based on a True Story' Fans May Freak Out After Hearing the Show's Real Inspiration
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Based on a True Story is certainly chilling. Straight from the creators of Ozark, Lost and The Boys, respectively, the comedic thriller follows husband and wife played by Kaley Cuoco and Chris Messina who discover their plumber has a dirty secret. In a twisted turn of events, the unexpected trio launches a podcast with a serial killer to rake in a huge payday and propel them to fame.
As viewers know, the killer forced Kaley's Ava and Chris's Nathan to clean up a murder, and they're caught by their neighbor with blood on their hands. Oh, and the last minute of the series finale dropped the curtain on the shocking affair between Ava's sister Tory (Liana Liberato) and Matt (Tom Bateman).
Strangely enough, it's made people wonder whether it's all ripped from the front pages...
Is Based on a True Story based on a true story?
In case it all seemed a little outrageous, Based on a True Story is, in fact, fictional and the events in the series are made up. That's not to say the series isn't entirely far off from reality, though.
'Based on a True Story'
Turns out, the new show drew inspiration from the real world. In May, creator Craig Rosenberg spoke with Peacock for the premiere of Based on a True Story's trailer and explained its origins.
“Over the last decade, a true crime phenomenon has swept over America,” he told the outlet. “Podcasts, documentaries, fictional shows based on true stories — they dominate the culture. Murderers have become celebrities, and celebrities have become murderers which inspired me to create this show.”
In another statement with Deadline, he added: "I became fascinated with the idea of a relatable married couple whose youthful dreams hadn’t come to fruition and who saw the true crime tidal wave as an opportunity to change their lives and save their marriage. Our Los Angeles setting — the city where everybody wants to be famous — became a vivid backdrop to our story of fame, ambition, aspiration and murder."
That's evident enough through the show's fanatical CrimeCon conventions and Zoom interviews with serial killers. But while the phenomenon of true crime podcasts, itself, laid the basis, one element of Peacock’s Based on a True Story was inspired by real-life: Kaley's pregnancy. She and her boyfriend, actor Tom Pelphrey, welcomed their daughter on March 30.
When speaking with USA Today. the actress expressed that she felt empowered to share it on the series, even filming late into her pregnancy.
“You've seen every part of my life — good and bad — in front of everyone. And so it was kind of cool to show this, too,” The Flight Attendant actress said to the publication. “Why not? Why not just own it and wear short shirts and let my stomach hang out?"
She added: "I did the swimsuit scene, and I did all these different things, and it felt right. And I 'm very proud of it, and I hope it inspires other women to be like, ‘It's fine. We can still do it all."
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