Netflix has finally confirmed the future of a 'sensational' true crime series four years after it first aired. The streaming giant has greenlit a second season of 'The Watcher', a true-crime thriller from the minds of Ryan Murphy and Ian Brennan, who also created the 'Monster' anthology series.
Production Details
Multiple production sources report that the second series is preparing to start production sometime this year. ProductionWeekly teases that cameras are set to begin rolling in October 2026. The series was initially penned as a limited series but was renewed for a second season in 2022.
Star-Studded Cast
Appearing in the series were Mulholland Drive's Naomi Watts, Ant Man's Bobby Cannavale, Your Friends & Neighbors' Isabel Gravitt, The White Lotus' Jennifer Coolidge, Bojack Horseman's Margo Martindale, A Serious Man's Richard Kind, Rosemary's Baby's Mia Farrow, Oz's Terry Kinney, and Happy Gilmore's Christopher McDonald.
Storyline and Background
'The Watcher' followed a married couple who moved into their dream home in a fictionalized version of Westfield, New Jersey. However, it wasn't long until they were harassed by creepy letters signed by a stalker who goes by the pseudonym 'The Watcher'. The series was based on a true story of an unidentified person who stalked the owners of a house from 2014 to 2017. Despite being tormented, they never moved out at the time due to fearing for their family's safety. Police, private investigators, and former FBI agents were not able to locate who was sending the letters. Eventually, the couple sold their house in 2019, but the person who bought it has not been contacted by the Watcher.
Netflix's True Crime Dominance
Part of what's made Netflix dominate the true crime genre is that they're not afraid to hire actors to play victims and criminals. Series such as 'Monster: The Jeffrey Dahmer Story' proved to be colossal success stories for them. Recently, Netflix released the first season of 'Worst Neighbor Ever', which consists of four episodes and is from the creators of 'Worst Roommate Ever' and 'Worst Ex Ever'. Released two weeks ago, it still sits in first place on Netflix's top ten most watched programmes, bringing an end to Harlan Coben's 'I Will Find You'.
Executive Statements
Bela Bajaria, the then-head of global TV at Netflix, said in a statement upon the renewal four years ago: 'Audiences can't take their eyes off Monster and The Watcher. The creative team of Ryan Murphy and Ian Brennan, on Monster, along with Eric Newman, on The Watcher, are masterful storytellers [who've] captivated audiences all over the world.'
Providing an update in 2024, Executive Producer Eric Newman told Radio Times: 'I can say nothing other than we're very excited about the prospect of another season of The Watcher. That's all I can say.'
