victim-first true – A USG University panel for “Devil in Disguise: John Wayne Gacy” centered on how the limited series keeps its focus on victims—skipping on-screen murders and violence while still delivering true-crime momentum. Michael Chernus, Patrick Macmanus, production desi
By the time “Devil in Disguise: John Wayne Gacy” found its audience. the debate around true crime had already grown louder than ever—who gets the spotlight. and what that attention costs. In a genre full of notorious serial-killer stories. this limited series landed with a different promise: keep the victims at the center.
That approach was the focus of a recent USG University panel moderated by IndieWire. where the creators and key creatives laid out how a “victim-focused” mandate shaped the series from the top down. The conversation brought together “Devil in Disguise” creator and showrunner Patrick Macmanus. star Michael Chernus. production designer Rory Cheyne. and composers Leopold Ross and Nick Chuba.
Macmanus framed the show’s goal as something more specific than style. “What I am very proud of. of everyone who has been a part of this show. is that we all understood what the mission was. ” he said. “Which was not just to do it differently, but to pay respect to the victims and their histories. We didn’t show a single murder on screen. we didn’t any acts of violence on screen. and yet I think we still had that true crime velocity that people come to expect while also doing something different.”.
For a showrunner, it’s a rare kind of instruction—less about what the camera catches and more about what it refuses to. On this panel, the team emphasized that the restraint wasn’t a compromise meant to soften the story. It was the method.
The series itself follows that same line. “Devil in Disguise: John Wayne Gacy” stars Michael Chernus as the infamous Chicago-based killer. but it makes a point not to show any of his worst crimes. The panel discussion underscored that the show’s tastefully different direction ultimately shines more light on the human systems that failed Gacy’s victims than on the mechanics of his methods—while still maintaining the gripping pace true crime fans often come for.
That delicate balancing act wasn’t confined to writing or performance. IndieWire’s moderated conversation described how the mission trickled into every department, so the entire production—from design to music—could serve the same underlying focus.
At this point, the series has already found its place in a crowded true-crime landscape. “Devil in Disguise: John Wayne Gacy” is produced by Universal Content Productions, a division of Universal Studio Group, and it is now streaming exclusively on Peacock.
USG University, a Universal Studio Group program, is presented in partnership with the Motion Picture & Television Fund. IndieWire partnered with Universal Studio Group for USG University. a series of panels celebrating the outstanding artistry and artisans behind the 2025–2026 television season across NBCUniversal’s portfolio of shows. The complete conversation with the “Devil in Disguise: John Wayne Gacy” team is available in the video provided above.
Devil in Disguise John Wayne Gacy USG University IndieWire Patrick Macmanus Michael Chernus Rory Cheyne Leopold Ross Nick Chuba Peacock Universal Content Productions NBCUniversal