Anne Hathaway will star as Margy Palm in the Paramount+ limited series Fear Not, a true-crime drama based on a real-life encounter with serial killer Stephen Morin. The series, written by Bash Doran, explores an unlikely bond formed during Palm's abduction that led to compassion and faith. Paramount+ has greenlit the project for a premiere next year.
Paramount+ has announced the casting of Oscar winner Anne Hathaway in the lead role of its upcoming true-crime limited series, Fear Not. Hathaway will portray Margy Palm, the last woman kidnapped by prolific serial killer Stephen Morin, who was accused of more crimes than Ted Bundy. The story, adapted from Julie Miller's Vanity Fair article "True Crime, True Faith: The Serial Killer and the Texas Mom Who Stopped Him," details how Morin's abduction of Palm began as a deadly situation but evolved through compassion, prayer, and profound courage.
Palm's strong faith and belief in Morin's potential for transformation fostered a relationship that continued after her safe return, lasting until Morin faced the death penalty. Bash Doran, known for her work on Netflix's Beef and shows like Boardwalk Empire and Masters of Sex, is writing the series. Hathaway also serves as an executive producer under her Somewhere Pictures banner, alongside Adam Shulman and Johnathan Rice. Additional executive producers include Steve Stark and Stacey Levin of Toluca Pictures, Helen Estbrook for Vanity Fair Studios, and Margy, Bart, and Noelle Palm. MGM Television is producing the series.
"By grounding this chilling true story in the lived experience of our protagonist, Anne is bringing a level of nuance and gravity to the screen that only a performer of her caliber can," said Jane Wiseman, head of originals for Paramount+. This project aligns with Paramount+'s recent push toward female-led content following the Paramount-Skydance merger, under leaders like Cindy Holland and Wiseman. Hathaway, celebrated for her roles in Les Misérables and The Devil Wears Prada, marks another significant TV venture after Apple TV+'s WeCrashed.
The series is slated to premiere on Paramount+ next year, offering viewers a nuanced look at an extraordinary true story of faith and redemption amid horror.