Paramount+’s scripted series about JonBenét Ramsey went above and beyond to tell an accurate story about the infamous murder case.
During an exclusive interview with Us Weekly while promoting Tulsa King, Garrett Hedlund teased the work that went into Unspeakable: The Murder of JonBenét Ramsey, saying, “I’ve seen everything that everyone has seen and I’ve read just a little bit more.”
Hedlund, 41, who plays Detective Steve Thomas, noted that everyone involved in the show “worked really hard” to honor Ramsey.
“But the whole thing is, it’s such a tragic story that it’s all based on,” he continued. “We had a wonderful writer so they really did their work. All I can say is everybody put their blood, sweat and tears into this one.”
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The upcoming eight-episode limited series will cover the Ramsey family before and after JonBenét’s 1996 murder. Unspeakable: The Murder of JonBenét Ramsey specifically centers around parents John and Patsy dealing with the loss of their child as an investigation questions their involvement in her death.
“At the heart of the series, it is the story of Patsy and John Ramsey,” read a September 2024 press release. “Exploring the unbreakable partnership of these two complex people — as husband and wife, as mother and father — who had committed themselves and their children to building the narrative of a perfect, privileged life only to have it destroyed one Christmas night in 1996.”
Patsy and John are set to be played by Melissa McCarthy and Clive Owen, respectively. The series also stars Emily Mitchell, Alison Pill, Owen Teague, Shea Whigham and Will Patton. The role of JonBenét’s brother Burke has yet to be cast.
In addition to working on the scripted true crime series, Hedlund has remained booked and busy with other TV opportunities — including season 3 of Tulsa King. Hedlund told Us that it’s “wonderful” audiences get to see his character “be smitten” by a “beautiful blast from the past” with the introduction of newcomer Bella Heathcote’s character, Cleo.
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“[She is] that gal that he just can’t let go of, that he can’t quit, that hurts so good,” Hedlund teased to Us. “You get to see them re-embark on that journey.”
Hedlund praised his costar for being a “wonderful gift and surprise” for season 3.
“I think audiences are going to enjoy seeing a sweeter side of Mitch, I think it brings a little grounded energy to the series that’s explosive at times from one form of chaos to the next,” Hedlund shared. “So it’s a treat to do that with Bella, a wonderful actress. A wonderful human.”
Tulsa King season 3 airs new episodes on Paramount+ every Sunday.
