"Furious" Star Emmy Rossum Discusses Trauma, Show's Themes, and Season 2 Plans Emmy Rossum, the star and executive producer of the Hulu series Furious, opened up about the show’s intense subject matter during a panel discussion at the Directors Guild of America in Los Angeles. The series, created by Elizabeth Meriwether, follows an FBI agent investigating a female serial killer, with Rossum portraying the agent, a survivor of abuse. Rossum shared her personal connection to the show’s themes, reflecting on her own experiences growing up in the entertainment industry. “I started in this business when I was 7 years old, and I’ve been dodging predators—the biggest and the smallest—since I was a child,” Rossum said. “So for me, the opportunity to make this show was a full-body experience.” She emphasized the show’s focus on sexual predators and the trauma they inflict, drawing from her own encounters with such challenges. The panel included Meriwether, who co-created the series with Rossum, as well as co-stars Scoot McNairy and Quincy Tyler Bernstine. Steve Way, who plays the love interest of the serial killer, joined virtually. Meriwether, known for her work on The Dropout and New Girl, described the show’s reception as “amazing” and “surprising.” She noted her initial uncertainty about how the audience would respond but praised the passion viewers have shown for the project. The idea for Furious originated from Rossum’s downtime during the COVID-19 pandemic and the 2023 Hollywood labor strikes. Inspired by the 1987 film Black Widow, the series explores the complex relationship between an FBI agent and a serial killer, both women, who meet during a scuba-diving sequence. Rossum described the tension in their dynamic: “You’re not sure if they’re going to kill each other or kiss.#hulu #elizabeth_meriwether #emmy_rossum #directors_guild_of_america #scot_mcnairy
Hulu Renewed for a Second Season Hulu has officially renewed the serial killer thriller Furious for a second season, marking a significant milestone for the Disney-owned streamer. The decision comes just days before the first season finale, which is set to premiere on August 31. Created by Elizabeth Meriwether and loosely inspired by the 1987 film Black Widow, the series stars Emmy Rossum as Alice Black, an FBI agent investigating a serial killer portrayed by Lola Petticrew. The show’s logline describes a tense dynamic between the two characters, as their paths converge and the moral boundaries of justice become increasingly blurred. The second season is expected to follow Alice Black as she takes on a new case, though the development process is still in its early stages. The first season has already garnered critical acclaim, with The Hollywood Reporter’s Daniel Fienberg praising the series for its “complex, well-acted and even funny” exploration of trauma, revenge, and the psychological toll of anger. Industry sources suggest the show is poised to rank among Nielsen’s top 10 streaming titles for its premiere week, with official data set to be released later in the week. The cast of Furious includes Quincy Tyler Bernstine and Scoot McNairy as key supporting characters, while Jake Lacy, Rob Delaney, Hope Davis, Rob Yang, and Steve Way appear in recurring roles. Meriwether, who also serves as showrunner, has spoken about her inspiration for the series. She noted her fascination with female serial killers, a topic she explored after learning that many such individuals had histories of being victims of violence. “The more I learned about female serial killers, the more I was drawn in,” she said on THR’s podcast I’m Having an Episode.#hulu #20th_television #furious #elizabeth_meriwether #emmy_rossum
