Paramount+ has cancelled the crime drama series Happy Face after one season, according to multiple industry sources.
The show starred Dennis Quaid and won’t return for a second season on the streaming platform.
Happy Face was based on the true story of Melissa Moore, whose father was the serial killer known as the “Happy Face Killer.” The series explored how she discovered her father’s crimes and dealt with that revelation.
Quaid played Keith Hunter Jesperson, the real-life serial killer who got his nickname from the smiley face drawings he included in letters to media outlets. The show premiered in April and ran for eight episodes.
The cancellation comes as Paramount+ continues to evaluate its original programming lineup. The streaming service has been selective about which shows get renewed as it competes with other platforms.
Moore served as an executive producer on the series, which aimed to tell the story from the perspective of a serial killer’s family member rather than focusing solely on the crimes themselves.
The show featured Quaid in one of his first major television roles in recent years. He’s primarily known for film work spanning several decades.
No official statement has been released by Paramount+ regarding the cancellation or the reasons behind the decision.
The series joins several other Paramount+ originals that have been cancelled after single seasons as the platform refines its content strategy.