Peacock celebrated its original series “Hysteria!” at New York Comic Con (NYCC) on Thursday. Stars Julie Bowen, Anna Camp, and Bruce Campbell, along with the show’s creators, spoke to journalists about their characters and the challenges of portraying them in a horror thriller.
Peacock’s original pop-horror thriller series, Hysteria!, tells a tale of murders, kidnappings, and reported supernatural activity that triggers a small-town witch hunt during the “Satanic Panic” of the late 1980s. When a beloved varsity quarterback disappears, a struggling high school heavy metal band of outcasts sees an opportunity. They capitalize on the town’s burgeoning interest in the occult by building a reputation as a Satanic metal band. However, a bizarre series of murders, kidnappings, and reported supernatural activity triggers a witch hunt that leads straight back to them. The series premieres on October 18, 2024, and stars Julie Bowen, Anna Camp, Emjay Anthony, Chiara Aurelia, Kezii Curtis, and Nikki Hahn, with Bruce Campbell making recurring guest appearances.
Julie Bowen shares insight into her “Hysteria!” character
In an interview from NYCC, Julie Bowen, who plays Linda Campbell, a mom in a small town in Michigan, shared her thoughts on her character and the show. Bowen described her character as a “nice person who doesn’t know anything about heavy metal.” She added that she could relate to her character’s fear that her son is possessed by the devil and is getting into satanic stuff. “So not my jam,” she said.
Bowen admitted that she was initially apprehensive about taking on a role in a horror thriller. “I’m an easy scare,” she said. “My kids have to enter the front door and say, ‘Mom, it is me, mom, it is me’ all the way through the house until they’re nice about it rather than scaring me.”
However, she eventually warmed up to the idea. “I think it’s about finding the truth of the moment,” she said. “And obviously, there’s so much comedy or drama in a single moment in time. It’s a balance between all of it.”
@templeofgeek Julie Bowen and Anna Camp tell us about their characters and what it's like working in the horror genre. On Day 1 of New York Comic Con, Peacock celebrated its original series "Hysteria!" with an exclusive panel and behind-the-scenes look for fans. The stars of the show, Julie Bowen, Anna Camp, and Bruce Campbell, along with the creators, discussed their characters and the challenges of portraying them in a horror thriller. @estarguarstia@sustheories ♬ original sound – Temple Of Geek
She also shared that her experience as a mother of teenagers helped her relate to her character’s fears. “Every day is a horror movie in your mind when a teenager takes the keys to the car and drives away,” she said. “I’m tracking them down the phone. I’m watching. I’m just like, it’s like watching a horror movie, honestly. Like, make it home. Make it home.”
Bowen’s comments offer a glimpse into the mind of her character and the challenges of portraying her in a horror thriller. “Hysteria!” is sure to be a hit with fans of the genre.
Not Familiar with New York Comic Con? Here’s what to know!
New York Comic Con (NYCC) is a massive annual fan convention held in New York City. Essentially, it’s a celebration of all things pop culture. From comics and graphic novels to anime, manga, video games, movies, and television, NYCC has something for everyone. Furthermore, attendees can explore a huge marketplace of vendors selling collectibles, toys, and art. They can meet their favorite comic book artists and writers in Artist Alley.
Of course, no Comic-Con experience would be complete without cosplay! NYCC features a massive cosplay masquerade where attendees can show off their incredible costumes. In addition to the exhibit hall and Artist Alley, NYCC offers a variety of panels and screenings. With over 200,000 attendees in 2022, it’s North America’s largest fan convention. Making it the perfect place for pop culture enthusiasts to connect and share their passions. This year, NYCC takes over the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center from October 17-20.
