‘I’ll Be Gone in the Dark’ docuseries gets the greenlight from HBO
HBO announced in a press release that HBO Documentary Films are now producing a series based on the bestselling true crime book I'll Be Gone in the Dark: One Woman's Obsessive Search for the Golden State Killer by the late journalist Michelle McNamara. HBO had first acquired the book rights in April. This news comes after Sacramento Sheriff's Office arrested former police officer Joseph James DeAngelo at his house in a nearby suburb on April 24, 2018, using DNA evidence (and McNamara’s research) to link the notorious serial killer and charge him with a number of crimes. I'll Be Gone in the Dark was published earlier this year in February. The book debuted at #1 on the New York Times combined print and e-book bestseller list. McNamara had died during investigating, but the book was finished by her lead researcher Paul Haynes and close colleague Billy Jenkins. HBO also announced that Liz Garbus (The Fourth Estate) will be directing the documentary about McNamara’s determination to find the psychopath she dubbed The Golden State Killer. He committed 50 home-invasion sexual assaults and ten murders in California in the late 70s and early 80s. Garbus is an Academy Award nominee and Emmy winner. Her HBO works include Nothing Left Unsaid: Gloria Vanderbilt & Anderson Cooper, There's Something Wrong with Aunt Diane, and What Happened, Miss Simone?
Book and Investigation Background
The book released in February 2018 and held the top spot on the New York Times bestseller list for fifteen weeks. McNamara’s notes and research shaped the series long after her death, giving the adaptation a direct line to the original investigation.
DeAngelo Arrest
DeAngelo pleaded guilty to multiple counts in 2020. Sentencing took place the following year and prompted dedicated follow-up episodes that revisited the original charges with fresh evidence and victim statements.
Series Release and Reception
The completed six-episode series premiered on HBO on June 28, 2020, and concluded on August 2. Amy Ryan provided narration while survivors and detectives offered firsthand accounts. A seventh episode aired in 2021, and the full run remains available to stream on Max.
Case Resolution and Sentencing Updates
After the 2018 arrest, later episodes addressed DeAngelo’s guilty plea and 2021 sentencing. Additional bonus material in 2026 revisited specific cases, including that of Kathy Lombardo, allowing the series to track the investigation from initial break to courtroom closure.
Companion Podcast and Additional Content
An official companion podcast launched alongside the June 2020 premiere. Episodes featured Garbus, co-director Elizabeth Wolff, Patton Oswalt, and key detectives, walking listeners through production choices and lingering investigative questions.
Legacy and Streaming Availability
Years after the announcement, the series continues to circulate in true crime conversations. It streams on Max as of 2026, keeping McNamara’s work and the broader case accessible to new audiences who missed the original broadcast window.
