Preview — Dr. Death: A True Story of Surgical Terror in Texas

While summer is often considered the season of lighthearted rom-com and action fare, some prefer their entertainment to be more macabre. Streaming on Peacock, Dr. Death is aimed at audiences who want — and have the stomach for — a terrifying and gruesome true story.

Dr. Death depicts the actions of Dr. Christopher Duntsch and is based on the first season of a podcast from which it takes its name. Duntsch’s practices in surgery alarm his colleagues, whose efforts to stop him are stymied as more patients fall victim.

Joshua Jackson stars as the titular doctor, with Alex Baldwin and Christian Slater playing Robert Henderson and Randall Kirby, fellow surgeons who work to take Duntsch down. AnnaSophia Robb also features as Dallas prosecutor Michelle Shughart.

Despite the deaths of two of his patients and the maiming and paralyzing of many more, Duntsch performed surguries at several hospitals in Texas. After multiple investigations and lawsuits, Duntsch was arrested, found guilty, and sentenced to life in prison.

Though primarily a true crime and horror series, Dr. Death will tell the stories of those most tragically affected by Duntsch’s crimes and those who stood up to stop him. It will also examine the systemic flaws that allowed his career path to continue at so high a cost.

Dr. Death will be released by Peacock on July 15. All eight episodes will be available at once. Read the series description, watch the official trailer, and see photos below:

Series description: Based on Wondery’s hit podcast, Dr. Death is inspired by the terrifying true story of Dr. Christopher Duntsch (Joshua Jackson), a rising star in the Dallas medical community. Young, charismatic and ostensibly brilliant, Dr. Duntsch was building a flourishing neurosurgery practice when everything suddenly changed. Patients entered his operating room for complex but routine spinal surgeries and left permanently maimed or dead. As victims piled up, two fellow physicians, neurosurgeon Robert Henderson (Alec Baldwin) and vascular surgeon Randall Kirby (Christian Slater), as well as Dallas prosecutor Michelle Shughart (AnnaSophia Robb), set out to stop him. Dr. Death explores the twisted mind of Dr. Duntsch and the failures of the system designed to protect the most defenseless among us.

Photos from Dr. Death:

Promo video:

What are your hopes for Dr. Death? Share your thoughts with us in the comments below.

All episodes of Dr. Death stream Thursday, July 15 on Peacock.

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