On Day 1 of New York Comic Con, Peacock celebrated its original series Hysteria! The stars of the show, Julie Bowen, Anna Camp, and Bruce Campbell, along with the 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.

Anna Camp stars as Tracy Whitehead Peacock’s original pop-horror thriller series, Hysteria!

Anna Camp, who plays Tracy Whitehead in the series, shared that she was initially hesitant to take on the role. “I definitely get cast a lot into these uptight women that are presenting a certain perfect exterior to the world, but then, you know, have so much turmoil and conflict bubbling underneath the surface,” she said. “And I actually, you know, for a while I really searched for roles that were not like that. But this one stood out because it was it’s like, if you’re going to take a role like that, you’re going to take the best of that type of role. And this one came around and I was like, something seems different about this. So I want to like, dive in, to see what they’ve got planned for Tracy.”

@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

Camp also shared that she was drawn to the role because of the challenge it presented. “It’s nice to be working with an actress that you trust and that you get along with, because I think you can go further in those really horrible, hard, horrific moments when you’re with someone that you respect and that you love as a person and as an actor, that it really gives you the spaces to play that you don’t get in every TV show and you don’t get on every job. So I like, trust her and love and respect her.”

When asked about her approach to playing a character in a horror thriller, Camp said that she tries to find the truth of the moment. “I think it’s about finding the truth of the moment. And obviously there’s so much comedy or drama in a single moment in time. It’s a balance between all of it. And I think that you’re more affected by the horror if you’ve previously just been laughing, so you can’t if you’re always constantly, like kind of the audience and keeping them surprised. I think you scare easier. You cry harder if you just laughed. All of it is opposite.”

Camp also shared that she was excited to be a part of a show that is both scary and funny. “I think it’s a really fun show and I think it’s going to be something that people are really going to enjoy watching,” she said. “I think it’s going to be a lot of fun.”

Overall, Anna Camp’s comments on Day 1 of New York Comic Con provided valuable insights into her character and the challenges of portraying her in a horror thriller. Her enthusiasm for the show was evident, and she left no doubt that “Hysteria!” is a must-watch for 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.