A Wilderness of Error (TV series)

A Wilderness of Error is an FX documentary true crime five-part series premiered on September 25, 2020, directed by Marc Smerling.^[1][2] It is based on the book A Wilderness of Error: The Trials of Jeffrey MacDonald by Errol Morris.

A Wilderness of Error
Genre	Documentary True crime
Based on	A Wilderness of Error: The Trials of Jeffrey MacDonald by Errol Morris
Written by	Andrew Jarecki Marc Smerling Zac Stuart-Pontier
Directed by	Marc Smerling
Starring	Clay Boulware John Morgan Logan Stearns Roger Hervas Bryan King Gina Mazzara
Composers	Kenny Kusiak John Kusiak
Country of origin	United States
Original language	English
No. of episodes	5
Production
Executive producers	Marc Smerling Jason Blum Michael Jackson Rachael Horovitz
Producers	Marc Smerling Jason Blum Scott Curtis
Cinematography	Philipp Friesenbichler Brian Jackson
Production companies	Truth Media Rachael Horovitz Prods. Universal Content Productions Blumhouse Productions FXP
Original release
Network	FX
Release	September 25 (2020-09-25) – October 2, 2020 (2020-10-02)

Premise

The series examines the case of Jeffrey MacDonald, an Army surgeon who was accused of murdering his wife and two daughters on February 17, 1970. He was convicted of the crime on August 29, 1979, and has been in prison since 1982. However, MacDonald maintains his innocence.^[3]

Cast

Main

• Chris Cartusciello as Freddy Kassab
• Clay Boulware as Joe McGinniss
• John Morgan as Jeffrey MacDonald
• Logan Stewarns as Jeffrey MacDonald
• Roger Hervas as Foreman
• Bryan King as Detective Prince Beasley
• Gina Mazzara as Helena Stoeckley

Recurring and guest

• Audrey Nita Bennett as Mildred Kassab
• Catherine Dawson as Helena Stoeckley
• Paul Spriggs as Jeffrey MacDonald
• James Trenton as Bernie Segal
• Kalyn Altmeyer Colette MacDonald
• Avery Ilardi as Kimberly MacDonald
• Clyde Drew as Bobby Jones
• Ryan Lee Dunlab as CID Agent Mike Pickering
• Vince Eisenson as CID Agent Peter Kearns
• Frank Failla as Detective Butch Madden
• Nick Dietz as Colonel Warren Rock
• Dan Lerner as CID Chief Franz Grebner
• Cliff LoBrutto as Dennis Meehan
• Rashid Helper as Vernoy Kennedy
• Mark Daly as William Berryhill
• And Palladino as Jimmy Friar
• Hugo Salazar Jr. as CID Agent Hagan Rossi
• Rick J. Koch as Judge Franklin Dupree
• Edwin Bacher as Eddie Sigmon
• Joy Bridenbaker as Kathryn MacDonald

Episodes

No.	Title [4]	Original release date [4]	U.S. viewers (millions)
1	"Girl in a Floppy Hat"	September 25, 2020 (2020-09-25)	0.284[5]
2	"A Time of Suspicion"	September 25, 2020 (2020-09-25)	0.162[5]
3	"Should the Jury Find..."	September 25, 2020 (2020-09-25)	0.162[5]
4	"When a Narrative Becomes Reality"	October 2, 2020 (2020-10-02)	0.260[6]
5	"A Wilderness of Error"	October 2, 2020 (2020-10-02)	0.193[6]

Production

In April 2020, Academy Award-nominated film producer Marc Smerling served as director for the series.^[3]

Release

A Wilderness of Error premiered on FX on September 25, 2020.^[2] The first official trailer was released by FX on July 30, 2020.^[7] It was released internationally on Disney + as Star Original Series.