Oscar Nominees Announced to Play JonBenét Ramsey's Parents in New Limited Series
With the 30th anniversary of JonBenét Ramsey's murder coming up in 2026, a new original limited series will explore the unsolved case of the child beauty queen. The project, which is being produced by MTV Entertainment Studios and 101 Studios, is currently working under the title JonBenét Ramsey. The show will star Melissa McCarthy and Clive Owen as the six year old's parents, Patsy and John Bennett Ramsey, whose story is said to be "at the heart of the" series.
"JonBenét Ramsey continues to be one of the country's most fascinating unsolved murders," Jeff Grossman, executive vice president of programming at Paramount+, said. "The incredible talent of Melissa McCarthy, Clive Owen and the creative team led by [Showrunner] Richard LaGravenese will illuminate her story with the acuity and nuance it deserves."
Before JonBenét's story is brought to the small screen, here is everything we know about the limited series.
When will the JonBenét Ramsey limited series premiere?
A premiere date has not been announced yet, but production is set to begin in Calgary, Canada.
How to watch the JonBenét Ramsey limited series
Paramount+ ordered the original limited series. So you should be able to watch it on the streamer once it drops.
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How many episodes of the JonBenét Ramsey series will there be?
The show will consist of eight episodes.
Who is in the cast of the JonBenét Ramsey series?
Melissa McCarthy is set to play JonBenét's mother, Patsy, who died in 2006, while Clive Owen will portray JonBenét's father, John Bennett Ramsey. In a statement, Chris McCarthy, Paramount Global Co-CEO and President/CEO of Showtime & MTV Entertainment Studios, said, "Melissa McCarthy and Clive Owen are an extraordinary duo to delve into this tragic story that has cast a long, haunting shadow over American culture for nearly three decades."
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What will happen in the JonBenét Ramsey series?
The limited series will follow the Ramsey family both "before and after the tragedy as they go through the painful loss of a child while facing intense public scrutiny caused by a media frenzy that caused this case to captivate an entire nation," according to Paramount+.
The show will examine "the unbreakable partnership" of JonBenét's parents, who are described as "two complex people" 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."
What happened to JonBenét Ramsey?
JonBenét was a six-year-old girl who was reported missing on December 26, 1996, after her family reported finding a ransom note inside their home in Boulder, Colorado, per the City of Boulder. Her body was later found in the basement of the house. An autopsy revealed that strangulation was the cause of her death.
JonBenét's parents and brother, Burke, were cleared by prosecutors in 2008. "To the extent that we may have contributed in any way to the public perception that you might have been involved in this crime, I am deeply sorry," Boulder County District Attorney Mary Lacy wrote in a letter to John (via NBC News). "No innocent person should have to endure such an extensive trial in the court of public opinion."
An investigation update shared by the City of Boulder in December of 2023 noted that the case file consisted "of nearly 2,500 pieces of evidence and roughly 40,000 reports, with more than one million pages documenting the investigation."
"This crime has left a hole in the hearts of many, and we will never stop investigating until we find JonBenet’s killer," Police Chief Maris Herold has said (via the City of Boulder). "That includes following up on every lead and working with our policing partners and DNA experts around the country to solve this tragic case. This investigation has always been and will continue to be a priority for the Boulder Police Department."
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