Elizabeth Olsen Stars as Accused Axe Murderer Candy Montgomery in HBO’s ‘Love and Death’ Trailer

After playing a diabolical Scarlet Witch in “Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness,” Elizabeth Olsen stars as Candy Montgomery, who was infamously accused of axe murder in 1980 and later acquitted, in “Love and Death.” HBO Max released the first trailer for the upcoming limited series on Thursday.

The seven-episode series premieres on HBO Max on April 27 with its first three episodes. New episodes will release weekly through May 25. (It is also set to be released in the U.K. on streamer ITVX in the fall).

More from Variety

• 'The Last of Us' Director on That Major 'Part II' Connection, Pedro Pascal's Tearful Reunion and the Below-Freezing Canada Set

• Nielsen Streaming Top 10: 'The Last of Us' Debuts at No. 6 With 837 Million Minutes Watched While 'Ginny & Georgia' Continues to Lead

• 'The Last of Us' Crew Was 'Banned' From Saying Zombie on Set: 'We Weren't Allowed to Say the Z Word'

Created by David E. Kelley (“Big Little Lies,” “Nine Perfect Strangers,” “The Lincoln Lawyer”), “Love and Death” “tells the true story of Candy and Pat Montgomery and Betty and Allan Gore — two churchgoing couples enjoying their small-town Texas life… until an extramarital affair leads somebody to pick up an axe,” the logline says.

In the real-life case, Candy Montgomery was having an affair with Allan Gore after becoming friends with his wife, Betty Gore, through church. One June 13, 1980, Betty was found murdered while Allan was out of town. She was struck 41 times by an axe. Candy was accused of murdering Betty, but pleaded she was acting in self defense after Betty learned of her husband’s affair. Candy underwent a successful polygraph test and was later acquitted.

Jesse Plemons co-stars as Allan Gore, Lily Rabe plays Betty Gore and Patrick Fugit is Pat Montgomery. The cast also includes Krysten Ritter, Tom Pelphrey, Keir Gilchrist and Elizabeth Marvel.

Last year, Jessica Biel starred in the Hulu limited series “Candy” about the same case. Melanie Lynskey co-starred as Betty Gore, with Pablo Schreiber as Allan Gore.

Watch the trailer for “Love and Death” below.

Best of Variety

• Barbra Streisand's Memoir Gets November Release Date

• What's Coming to Netflix in February 2023

• What's Coming to Disney+ in February 2023

Sign up for Variety’s Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

Click here to read the full article.