Netflix has released the trailer for Evil Genius, a documentary series that explores one of the more bizarre true crime stories out there.

The true crime series explore the 2003 death of Brian Wells, a 46-year-old who made his living delivering pizzas for 30 years. On August 28, 2003, he showed up outside an Eerie, Pennsylvania television station with a customized metal collar bomb around his neck, and he soon received instructions for a bizarre scavenger hunt and robbery. The plan went horribly wrong, as the subsequent investigation into the event revealed. The infamous Pizza Bomber incident became a media sensation and has been the source material for investigative broadcast reports, long-form essays, and podcasts ever since. Now, the case will receive the Netflix series treatment.

Earlier today, Netflix posted Evil Genius’ official trailer to YouTube. In the clip, a 911 call and news footage establishes the context for the initial pizza delivery drama. But according to interview subjects, the apparent hostage wasn’t necessarily an innocent victim but maybe a participant in a well-planned robbery with a diabolical twist. The trailer introduces various suspects, along with evidence that doesn’t initially make sense to investigators. However, as the clip suggests, the core investigation seeks to explore who put a bomb on the pizza deliveryman’s neck, and why. You can also check out the poster for Evil Genius, below.


The Netflix series is the latest collaboration with Jay and Mark Duplass, who founded Duplass Brothers Productions in 1996. In the 2000s, they produced “Mumblecore” productions (The Puffy Chair, Baghead) before focusing their attention on indie dramas this past decade (The Skeleton Twins, Creep, Tangerine). In recent years, the duo has produced the HBO series Togetherness, Animals. and Room 104. Both men are accomplished actors as well, even if they’re mostly recognizable for their performances in lower-budget independent productions. In 2018, Mark can be seen alongside Charlize Theron in Jason Reitman’s Tully, while Jay has a role in Miguel Arteta’s Duck Butter. Both films premiered at the 2018 Tribeca Film Festival.

While Evil Genius may not impact pop culture, this much is clear: the Duplass Brothers are excellent storytellers. So, if Netflix is willing to pay high for performers like Adam Sandler, Chris Rock, and Dave Chappelle, it makes sense to keep some extra room in the budget for the brothers Duplass, both of which have a knack for connecting with their audiences on a visceral level.