Courteney Cox is stepping behind the camera once again to direct the upcoming true crime thriller “Evil Genius”, starring Patricia Arquette and David Harbour. The film is being produced by Aggregate Films and August Night, and is inspired by the acclaimed Netflix documentary series by Barbara Schroeder and Trey Borzillieri. The screenplay is written by Courtenay Miles, a WGA Award nominee.
The film revisits the infamous “pizza bomber” case — one of the strangest and most shocking crimes in US history — while delving into the emotional depths of deception, desperation, and the blurred lines between victim and villain.
Joining Arquette and Harbour in the ensemble cast are Michael Chernus, Garrett Dillahunt, Danielle Macdonald, Tom McCarthy, Gregory Alan Williams, Ryan Eggold, Owen Teague, and Harlow Jane.
“I’ve been fascinated by ‘Evil Genius’ since I first saw the documentary,” Cox said in a statement. “It’s stranger than fiction — at times darkly funny, yet deeply emotional. It’s a story about love, loneliness, manipulation, and the people on the fringes who get pulled into something much bigger than themselves.”
Production is currently underway in New Jersey, with Cox also serving as producer alongside Jason Bateman, Michael Costigan, and John Buderwitz under the Aggregate Films banner.
Best known for her iconic roles in “Friends”, “Cougar Town”, and the “Scream” franchise, Cox has built an impressive directing portfolio across television, short films, and features. She made her directorial debut with “Talhotblond”, also inspired by a Barbara Schroeder documentary. Outside filmmaking, Cox founded Homecourt, an award-winning lifestyle brand recognised by Fast Company as one of the world’s most innovative companies.
