Hot on the heels of the Tell Me Lies finale, creator Meaghan Oppenheimer is already diving into her next project for Hulu—a gripping new series titled Bastards. The psychological drama mastermind is teaming up with 20th Television to deliver what promises to be another unmissable thriller, and the streamer is reportedly fast-tracking the script after an enthusiastic reception.
Oppenheimer's Tell Me Lies wrapped its third and final season earlier this year, going out with a bang. The Grace Van Patten and Jackson White-led series saw a massive 150% increase in viewership for its Season 3 premiere compared to Season 1, with social conversation up 220% and total engagement soaring 580%. Despite the buzz, Oppenheimer decided to end the show on a high note, stating she wanted to 'protect the quality of the show.'
Now, she's channeling that same intensity into Bastards, a family drama with a dark twist. The logline reads: 'After a world-famous artist is engulfed in a public scandal, her three adult children – each from a different father and each unraveling in their own way – are forced to move back into their childhood home to take care of the teenage sister they barely know. As old dynamics resurface and secrets come to light, the siblings must confront their inheritance of love, cruelty, and chaos.'
It's a premise that feels tailor-made for fans of messy, character-driven storytelling—think Succession meets The Royal Tenenbaums with a thriller edge. Oppenheimer has a knack for exploring toxic relationships and family dysfunction, as she proved over three seasons of Tell Me Lies. If you loved the tangled web of lies and betrayals in that series, Bastards looks set to scratch a similar itch.
For those who haven't caught up, Tell Me Lies is based on Carola Lovering's 2018 novel and follows a tumultuous relationship between college students Lucy Albright and Stephen DeMarco. The final season delivered twists that left audiences and critics raving—Collider's Isabella Soares gave it an 8/10, praising its 'gripping narrative' and 'messiness.'
Oppenheimer's next move is a smart one: she's leaning into the family drama genre, which has been a hot ticket in streaming lately. With Hulu's track record for buzzy originals and Oppenheimer's proven ability to create addictive TV, Bastards is already shaping up to be one of the most anticipated new series on the platform.
While we wait for more details, you can catch up on Tell Me Lies in its entirety on Hulu. And if you're in the mood for more high-stakes family intrigue, check out our list of the greatest action-thriller masterpieces or dive into the Netflix crime thriller that redefined the procedural.
Stay tuned to ShowtimeSpot for the latest updates on Bastards and all your favorite shows.
