First Trailer for Crime Drama Happy Face Reveals Dennis Quaid as Main Antagonist and Release Date

Paramount+ is set to unveil "Happy Face," a gripping drama inspired by the real-life story of the notorious murderer Keith Jesperson, portrayed by Dennis Quaid. The series, available from March 20, casts a haunting light by following Jesperson—the infamous "Happy Face Killer"—serving multiple life sentences for eight strangulation murders committed in the 1990s. Already notorious after being dubbed with his chilling moniker due to smiley faces sketched on taunting letters to police and the media, his last victim only came to light decades later, in 2023. This is prepared by SSP.

The drama centers around Jesperson’s daughter, Melissa Moore, played by Annaleigh Ashford, as she tries to reconcile her past with her present. Discovering an innocent man may face execution for her father's crimes, she races against time, contemplating forgiveness and understanding the deep trauma left in her father's wake. Her journey of uncovering familial revelations, glaring childhood signs of her father's sociopathy—like torturing kittens—never heeded in his life adds depth to her quest.

Melissa, who has gone public with her story in both her 2009 autobiography, "Shattered Silence," and her podcast "Happy Face," has always carried the burden of being a "secondary crime victim." The series merges reality with fiction, showing Moore rebuilding her identity by confronting her father's dark legacy.

Jennifer Cacicio serves as the showrunner, accompanied by executive producers Robert and Michelle King, Michael Showalter, who also directed the pilot, and Liz Glotzer. With a personal reckoning narrative intertwined with fascinating crime psychology, this narrative promises to engage viewers in understanding generational trauma and justice. The story also brings to light Melissa’s family life with her husband—played by James Wolk—ensnared by echoes of the past unexpectedly resurfacing. This exploration of intertwined lives ensures that "Happy Face" delves deep into the complexity of familial relationships marked by infamous history.

Earlier, SSP reported that Nany González and Kaycee Clark broke up.