Courteney Cox’s “Insane” Upcoming Adaptation Of 4-Part Netflix Crime Series Gets Intriguing Update From Star

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A major Netflix crime series adaptation has earned an update.

Courteney Cox’s new movie, based on the Netflix crime series Evil Genius, has a fascinating update thanks to actress Danielle Macdonald. Cox both directed and wrote the thriller, which retells the story from the four-part 2018 documentary of the same name. The film, like the original documentary, centers on the case of Brian Wells, a man who was forced to rob a bank and tragically died when an explosive collar around his neck detonated. The mastermind behind this crime was Marjorie Diehl-Armstrong, who is the focus of both the documentary and the film.

Danielle Macdonald recently told ScreenRant that filming has finished on Evil Genius and the movie is now in post-production. Discussing her role in the film, she explained how she tackled portraying a real person involved in the strange and complex crime that captivated the FBI. She also noted that despite the serious subject matter, the movie is surprisingly funny, largely because of how complicated Diehl-Armstrong’s crimes were.

Check out what Macdonald had to say below:

It was a really enjoyable experience. I recently spoke with one of the producers who’s seen it many times, and I asked him what he thought. It felt great to tackle something different. Playing a real person always requires sensitivity, but there wasn’t a lot of existing footage to work with, so finding the right balance between accuracy and creative interpretation was challenging. Courteney was fantastic – she had a clear vision and was fully prepared. It was surprisingly funny, considering the incredibly wild true story it’s based on. If you’ve seen the documentary, you know how unbelievable it is, but there’s a lot of humor within that craziness. I think the final product will be a really compelling blend of a shocking true story and comedic moments, which might sound strange, but it was a lot of fun to work on, and I’m excited to see how it all comes together.

Filming for Evil Genius started in November 2025, and according to director Macdonald, the movie is now complete. The film features a cast including Patricia Arquette, David Harbour, Michael Chernus, Garret Dillahunt, Tom McCarthy, Gregory Alan Williams, Ryan Eggold, Owen Teague, and Harlow Jane. While Macdonald has mentioned some humor, Evil Genius is a crime thriller that carefully explores true events and the intricate details of Diehl-Armstrong’s scheme.

The four-part docuseries Evil Genius carefully revealed the intricate story behind Wells’ death. The case centered around Diehl-Armstrong manipulating Wells into robbing a bank, hoping to use the money to hire Kenneth Barnes to kill her father and collect a large inheritance. What makes this case so compelling – and what the series presents clearly – is its incredible complexity, cementing its place among Netflix’s top true crime documentaries.

According to Macdonald, the movie will vividly portray the shocking nature of these crimes while remaining respectful of the real events. While the final look of the film is still unknown, it appears Evil Genius will highlight Diehl-Armstrong’s bizarre actions and won’t shy away from depicting her as a villain for what she did.

Even though we don’t know exactly when Evil Genius will be released, filming has finished, which suggests an announcement about the release date is coming soon. The film is being produced by Jason Bateman’s Aggregate Films and August Night, increasing the likelihood it will be shown in theaters. This could help more people discover Diehl-Armstrong’s story and the Netflix documentary it’s based on.

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2026-05-21 17:32