'Dirty John: The Betty Broderick Story': Everything We Know
True crime fans, rejoice!
Your prayers for a great new true crime show to binge during quarantine have been answered: We're getting a second season of Dirty John. Season 2 of Dirty John—the buzzy first season starred Connie Britton and Eric Bana—will tell a fictionalized version of Betty (Amanda Peet) and Dan Broderick's (Christian Slater) infamous relationship. The Brodericks made several headlines in the '90s for their tragic marriage and divorce. The couple even inspired the 1991 Law and Order episode "The Wages of Love," and, as Entertainment Tonight notes, Oprah deemed theirs "one of America's messiest divorces" in 1992. Which is all to say: Get ready for some jaw-dropping drama this season.
Here's everything you need to know about Dirty John season 2.
Who were Betty Broderick and Dan Broderick IRL?
The show, set in the 1960s-1980s, follows Betty (Peet), a charming Southern Californian wife and mother, who married her college boyfriend, Dan (Slater). Like any "good housewife," Betty puts her dreams aside so Dan can shine. Dan, indeed, does shine on the legal scene, and to Betty, everything seems worth it. Until, that is, Dan hires a young woman named Linda Kolkena, and drama (and perhaps death) ensues—it is Dirty John after all.
Show creator Alexandra Cunningham revealed that the Broderick's tale is one she's been wanting to tells for years. “The first season of Dirty John was a story of twisted love and coercive control—and both these insidious elements are also present in and integral to the story of Betty Broderick, whom I have wanted to write about since I became a writer,” Cunningham said to Deadline.
The release date is June 2.
The show will premiere on June 2 at 9 p.m. ET on the USA Network and will kick off with two back-to-back episodes.
Starting on June 9, episodes will air in the show's usual time slot of 10 p.m. ET. If you don't have cable, the show will likely hit the good old' Netflix in a couple of months. (The first season of Dirty John landed on the streaming service in the fall of 2019, a year after its premiere.)
The all-star casts includes Amanda Peet and Christian Slater.
Amanda Peet will play Betty Broderick. You've probably Peet in either Amazon Prime's The Romanoffs or IFC's Brockmire. Her most recent play, Our Very Own Carlin McCullough, debuted last year at The Geffen Playhouse in Los Angeles.
Christian Slater will play her husband Dan Broderick. You may remember Slater from the 1988 iconic film Heathers, but today he's best known for his Golden Globe-winning turn as Mr. Robot in Mr. Robot. He knows how to play 'em wicked, so it'll be interesting to see him in this role.
Rachel Keller will play Linda Kolkena, Broderick's receptionist who shakes things up. Keller has previously starred in FX's Fargo and Legion. And Lily Donoghue will play Tracy Broderick, a fictionalized version of one of Betty and Dan's two real-life daughters, Kim and Kathy Lee. You may have previously caught Donoghue in the film Black Christmas.
Donoghue spoke to HorrorBuzz.com about the role, revealing, "Yeah, I am currently filming the second season of Dirty John. It's six months later, and Christian Slater is my father, and I am such a fan of him."
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