"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
