Netflix has provided some of television's most buzzworthy true crime series of the last few years, and the latest docu-series looks to be one of its best yet. The new series, titled Evil Genius: The True Story Of America's Most Diabolical Bank Heist, will take viewers to Erie, Pennsylvania, in 2003 during one of the most bizarro heist plots in the past couple decades. The trailer is dripping with intensity, intrigue, and a sense that anyone who thinks they heard everything about this event back in the day didn't get the full story:
Evil Genius offers something for those who were never aware of the much-publicized "pizza bomber heist," and the trailer teases more information for those that followed the event back in the day. According to the series' description, the four-part docu-series will prove there was more to this conspiracy than was initially brought to light when the story made national headlines. Judging from the intricate devices, co-conspirators, and scavenger hunt map all spotted in the trailer, one can only imagine what wild web this show will weave once it makes its premiere on May 11.
Evil Genius is produced by the Duplass Brothers, who have already made a name for themselves on Netflix with their other true-crime documentary series that was released earlier this year, Wild Wild Country. The docu-series itself is written and directed by Barbara Schroeder and co-directed by Trey Borzillieri. The family of the pizza bomber heist victim Brian Wells does not appear to be attached to the project on the production side, nor does anyone connected with the bombing's alleged mastermind, Marjorie Diehl-Armstrong, although that doesn't mean footage of people related to either party won't be shown in the series.
The story of Evil Genius might bring a sense of deja vu to some, although maybe not because they remember the story being covered by national news outlets. The real-life event is incredibly similar to the Jesse Eisenberg film 30 Minutes Or Less, which sparked a bit of outrage amongst those close to the incident at the time of its release. Sony Pictures Motion Picture Group claimed the film's cast and crew didn't know of the event during the film's production and stated that the screenwriters were only vaguely aware of the incident in question. The film would go on to draw criticism from Brian Wells sister Jean Heid, as well as former FBI agent Jerry Clark, who was personally involved in the case.
Evil Genius will reveal more about thew case when the show comes to Netflix on May 11. For a look at what else is headed to Netflix in the near future, be sure to visit our Netflix premiere guide. Those searching for a more general breakdown of what's coming to television can find out by visiting our summer premiere guide.
