Several fresh photographs from Peacock’s upcoming true-crime series A Friend of the Family have been revealed, displaying some of the actors who will feature in the programme and hinting at an emotionally affecting and powerful crime thriller.
The photographs provide a fresh look at various characters in the forthcoming drama, which is based on a true event set in the 1970s and features several recognisable faces.
The photos depict Anna Paquin (X-Men) as Mary Ann Broberg, a mother of three kids who begins to regret entrusting her eldest daughter to their neighbour Robert Berchtold. Paquin’s acting chops are on full display as she wears a worried expression that foreshadows the emotional upheaval she will experience throughout the series. Images show Jake Lacy (Being the Ricardos) as Berchtold smiling subtly and arrogantly, both of which allude to his manipulative personality.
After some time, Berchtold manipulates the family into helping him abduct Broberg’s eldest daughter. To play Mary’s sceptical husband Bob Broberg, Colin Hanks (Impeachment: American Crime Story) has been cast. Gail Berchtold, played by Lio Tipton (The Edge of Sleep), is Robert’s worried wife who finds out about the horrible act he committed. A mature Jan Broberg will be portrayed by Mckenna Grace (Ghostbusters: Afterlife). Jan, the eldest child of Mary and Bob, seems anxious as she begins to trust Berchtold, who is attempting to steal her.
The younger version of the character, played by Hendrix Yancey (George & Tammy), is shown smiling, in sharp contrast to the older version of the character. The new promotional photos suggest that the upcoming series, which frames itself as a cautionary story about the manipulation of a full family, will be a powerful and emotionally absorbing drama. The documentary Abducted in Plain Sight (2017), which exposed the heinous and terrible character of Berchtold’s horrifying acts, will serve as the inspiration for the series based on Jan Broberg’s abduction.
Jan and Mary Ann Broberg, a genuine mother and daughter duo, will serve as executive producers. A Friend of the Family, based on a terrible true incident, will premiere on Peacock later this year, and it features an impressive ensemble. Together with Eliza Hittman, who also directs many episodes, Nick Antosca writes and executive produces the series. A Friend in the Family will have Jan and Mary Ann Broberg as producers. The film A Friend of the Family may be seen online starting on October 6. Read on for the official plot summary, some brand new photos, and an interview with Grace about her role in Ghostbusters: Afterlife.
The terrifying events shown in the film A FRIEND OF THE FAMILY occurred in the real life of the Broberg family, whose daughter Jan was kidnapped repeatedly over the course of several years by a seductive and obsessive family “friend.” The Brobergs, who put their faith, family, and community first, were taken by surprise by the complex strategies their neighbour employed to take advantage of their frailties, alienate them, and turn their own daughter against them. In this account, we learn how these events affected them irrevocably, and how they managed to keep going.