Peacock is taking a feather from Netflix’s hat with its own serial killer anthology series like the hit Monster series

If Netflix’s Monster already has viewers glued to its scary stories, Peacock is entering the game with its own follow-up: also a true-crime anthology on serial killers. Devil in Disguise is not merely attempting to imitate Monster, but they are simply providing a more psychologically dark version. Every season will delve into the mind of a real-life killer. Still, it will also cover their victims, the corruption embedded in society, and the ethical repercussions of their offenses.

The first season of Devil in Disguise focuses on the life and deeds of John Wayne Gacy, who is considered to be one of the most notorious murderers in America. The second season is already preparing to showcase the life and crimes of Richard Ramirez, known as the “Night Stalker.” Through this series, it is quite evident that Peacock is trying to establish its presence in the realms of true-crime narration.

Devil in Disguise borrowing Monster’s blueprint

Naturally, it does not come as a surprise that Peacock will be doing what Netflix did with its own true-crime anthology series. Similar to Monster, Devil in Disguise constructs every season of the show around a serial killer and clearly aspires to be considered as Peacock’s own version of Monster.

But Devil in Disguise is not just a copy. The first season, which will premiere on October 16, 2025, centers on the dark side of John Wayne Gacy, a man who had buried a deep, dark side of himself beneath a friendly facade. His horrifying tale is already popular, but Peacock presents it in a more realistic and solemn tone.

As Monster balances drama and commentary on fame and crime, Devil in Disguise remains more grounded. It puts the victims in the limelight, the failed systems that have not served them, and the social problems that enabled the occurrence of such crimes. Showrunner Patrick Macmanus is interested in demonstrating how bigotry, a lax law enforcement system, and negligence allowed monsters like Gacy to thrive in the first place.

Devil in Disguise shares the same fundamental structure as Monster: one killer each season and the psychological profiling of him or her, but the tone will be different. You will be pondering over the emotional truth, questioning justice, and haunted by the shivering idea of how it all went so wrong.

From Gacy to the Night Stalker, Devil in Disguise is expanding the crimeverse

Peacock is already planning Season 2 of Devil in Disguise before the first season even airs, a risky move that speaks of confidence and high ambitions. The following season will center around Richard Ramirez, the Night Stalker.

Ramirez was a quite different type of murderer; he assaulted individuals in their houses during the night and transformed safe places into places of horror. The concept is clever since many people are already interested in Ramirez’s story. His crimes have been the subject of numerous documentaries and shows, which is why the story does not lack any material. However, the task will be to narrate it in an original and fresh manner without using the same cliches.

Every murderer of the series will introduce a different tone, be it the cold and rather professional image of John Wayne Gacy in Season 1 or the chilling and home-invading fright of Ramirez in Season 2. This diversity provides the anthology with good creative potential. Peacock has just proven that Devil in Disguise is not a one-time experiment by planning more seasons in the future and making it clear that it will be a long-term, true-crime franchise.

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