Long Bright River, a new limited suspense thriller series, is set to premiere on March 13, 2025 on Peacock. The eight-episode series stars Amanda Seyfried as Mickey, a police officer in a Philadelphia neighborhood devastated by the opioid crisis. Her life takes a dark turn when a string of murders forces her to confront her own past.
Here’s the Lowdown: The show is based on Liz Moore’s novel of the same name. Mickey (Seyfried) patrols a Philadelphia area hit hard by opioid addiction. When murders begin occurring, Mickey suspects a connection to her own family history. The series blends a family drama with a murder mystery, exploring the past and present. The cast includes Nicholas Pinnock, Ashleigh Cummings, Callum Vinson, and John Doman. Nikki Toscano (The Offer, Hunters) serves as showrunner, writer, and director for one episode, with Moore as a writer and executive producer.
What This Means Now: This is a high-profile project tackling a serious social issue (the opioid crisis) through the lens of a crime thriller. The involvement of Amanda Seyfried, known for The Dropout, suggests a strong central performance. The show aims to challenge typical portrayals of poverty, addiction, sex work, and law enforcement, offering a different take on the “police as savior” narrative.
The Bigger Picture: Long Bright River looks set to be a gritty, character-driven drama with a strong sense of place, using the setting of Kensington, Philadelphia, as a key element. The creative team, including co-creator and showrunner Nikki Toscano and author Liz Moore, are drawing on personal experiences and local input to create an authentic story. The series, produced by Sony Pictures Television and UCP, is a binge release, with the premiere on March 13, 2025.
