TV - The Outsider

Based on Stephen King’s bestselling novel of the same name, The Outsider is a new drama series that explores the investigation into the gruesome murder of a local boy and the mysterious force surrounding the case. Here's what we know about the first few episodes...

Press Release

Debuting on HBO on Sunday 12th January (and coming to Sky in the UK) with two episodes back-to-back, the ten-episode mini-series follows police detective Ralph Anderson (Ben Mendelsohn), as he sets out to investigate the mutilated body of 11-year-old Frankie Peterson found in the Georgia woods. The mysterious circumstances surrounding this horrifying crime leads Ralph, still grieving the recent death of his own son, to bring in unorthodox private investigator Holly Gibney (Cynthia Erivo), whose uncanny abilities he hopes will help explain the unexplainable.

As well as Ready Player One's Ben Mendelsohn as Ralph Anderson and Harriet star Cynthia Erivo as Holly Gibney, the cast also includes Bill Camp as Howie Salomon; Mare Winningham as Ralph’s wife Jeannie Anderson; Paddy Considine as Claude Bolton, manager of a local strip club; Julianne Nicholson as Glory Maitland; Yul Vázquez as Georgia Bureau of Investigation detective Yunis Sablo; Jeremy Bobb as Alec Pelley, a private investigator hired by Howie; and Marc Menchaca as detective Jack Hoskins; with the legendary Jason Bateman as Terry Maitland.

Here's what we can look forward to in the first few episodes (times given for HBO premieres):

Episode 1: “Fish in a Barrel”
Debut date: SUNDAY, JAN. 12 (9:00–10:00 p.m. ET/PT)

When the body of an 11-year-old boy is found in the Georgia woods, detective Ralph Anderson (Ben Mendelsohn) launches an investigation into the gruesome murder. With eyewitnesses and physical evidence pointing to local teacher and baseball coach Terry Maitland (Jason Bateman), Ralph makes a very public arrest but is perplexed by Terry’s seeming indifference to hiding his crime. After Terry’s wife Glory (Julianne Nicholson) calls their attorney Howie Salomon (Bill Camp) for assistance, a bewildered Terry produces an ironclad alibi during interrogation. Meanwhile, Howie calls in his PI Alec Pelley (Jeremy Bobb) to look into Terry’s side of the story.

Written by Richard Price; directed by Jason Bateman.


Episode 2: “Roanoke”
Debut date: SUNDAY, JAN. 12 (10:00–11:00 p.m. ET/PT)

During a surreptitious late-night visit with Terry (Jason Bateman), Ralph (Ben Mendelsohn) admits to being baffled by conflicting physical evidence. The next day, an unexpected tragedy throws the investigation into a tailspin, and ornery detective Jack Hoskins (Marc Menchaca) is forced to cut his hunting trip short to return to work and pick up the slack. Meanwhile, Glory (Julianne Nicholson) tries to soothe her daughter Jessa (Scarlett Juniper Blum), who says she’s been visited by a strange man in her room at night.

Written by Richard Price; directed by Jason Bateman. 

Episode 3: “Dark Uncle”
Debut date: SUNDAY, JAN. 19 (9:00–10:00 p.m. ET/PT)

Despite being on mandatory leave, Ralph (Ben Mendelsohn) continues to scrutinize the confounding circumstances surrounding the night of the murder. Frustrated by their lack of progress, Ralph and GBI detective Yunis Sablo (Yul Vázquez) meet with Alec (Jeremy Bobb) and Howie (Bill Camp), who suggest bringing in unorthodox PI Holly Gibney (Cynthia Erivo). Jack (Marc Menchaca) has a hair-raising experience at a remote barn where key evidence and a mysterious substance have been found. Glory (Julianne Nicholson) deals with fallout at her daughters’ school and with Jessa’s (Scarlett Juniper Blum) increasingly concerning nightmares.

Written by Richard Price; directed by Andrew Bernstein. 

Episode 4: “Que Viene El Coco”
Debut date: SUNDAY, JAN. 26 (9:00–10:00 p.m. ET/PT)

While retracing the Maitlands’ recent family vacation in Dayton, Ohio, Holly (Cynthia Erivo) pursues a possible connection to an eerily similar case and gains valuable insight from local former detective Andy Katcavage (Derek Cecil). Meanwhile, Glory (Julianne Nicholson) faces increased scrutiny in her daily life, and Jack’s (Marc Menchaca) behavior grows progressively more erratic.

Written by Richard Price; directed by Andrew Bernstein. 

Episode 5: “Tear-Drinker”
Debut date: SUNDAY, FEB. 2 (9:00–10:00 p.m. ET/PT)

After returning from an eye-opening trip to New York, Holly (Cynthia Erivo) searches for clues at several locations connected to the Dayton case. Jeannie (Mare Winningham) finds herself shaken by an unnerving incident at work and delivers an ominous warning to Ralph (Ben Mendelsohn). Jack (Marc Menchaca) is put on the defensive at Tamika’s (Hettienne Park) baby shower.

Written by Richard Price; directed by Igor Martinovic. 

Episode 6: “The One About the Yiddish Vampire” Debut date: SUNDAY, FEB. 9 (9:00–10:00 p.m. ET/PT)

Holly (Cynthia Erivo) presents her unusual theory about the connection between two other mysterious child murders and the Frankie Peterson case. While Ralph (Ben Mendelsohn) remains skeptical, a more receptive Yunis (Yul Vázquez) suggests they start looking into Claude (Paddy Considine), the last person to have contact with Terry (Jason Bateman). Jeannie’s (Mare Winningham) attempt to include Glory (Julianne Nicholson) in their group of concerned citizens backfires.

Written by Jessie Nickson-Lopez; directed by Karyn Kusama. 

With more to come...

THE OUTSIDER is produced by Mendelsohn and executive producer Bateman, who also directs the first two episodes. The series is written for television by Richard Price (“The Wire,” “The Night Of”), who also serves as executive producer. Executive producers include Andrew Bernstein, Marty Bowen for Temple Hill Entertainment, Jack Bender, Michael Costigan for Aggregate Films, and Dennis Lehane. The series is produced by Bateman’s Aggregrate Films, Temple Hill Entertainment and Civic Center Media in association with MRC Television.

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