'He Seems to Crave Publicity': Here's the Trailer for 'Monster: The Zodiac Killer' (Exclusive)

The creators of “Atlanta Monster” are following the success of the harrowing true-crime podcast by revisiting perhaps the most infamous cold case of the last century — and we have the exclusive first trailer for “Monster: The Zodiac Killer.”

As the trailer (above) recounts, the Zodiac Killer terrorized Northern California communities in the late 1960s and early ’70s, taunting police and the news media with clues and misdirection. He has never been conclusively identified.

“Atlanta Monster” host Payne Lindsey will executive produce and lend his voice to the new season, which will be hosted by Matt Frederick, best known as the host of “Stuff They Don’t Want You to Know.” The new season comes from Lindsey’s Tenderfoot TV and iHeartMedia.

Also Read: Ted Cruz Takes Stab at Humor, Tweets Zodiac Killer Confession in Halloween Post

The podcast will debut exclusively on iHeartMedia broadcast radio stations around the U.S. on Jan. 2 at 7 p.m. local time, and the first two episodes will then be available online across the iHeartPodcast Network and everywhere else podcasts are available on Jan. 3. The series will run for 15 episodes.

The Zodiac Killer’s carefully cultivated air of menace and mystery has made him an enduring pop culture fixation nearly half a century after his crimes. The 2007 David Fincher film “Zodiac” focuses on the attempts to bring him to justice, and an enduring meme holds that Sen. Ted Cruz is the Zodiac Killer. (He isn’t.)

Lindsey’s previous “Monster” podcast, “Atlanta Monster,” examined the deaths of at least 28 African-American children and young men in the late 1970s and early 1980s. The series, which had more than 30 million downloads, focused on whether Wayne Williams, who was convicted in two of the murders, was guilty of all of the killings.

Also Read: 'Atlanta Monster' Host: Wayne Williams 'Lied to Me About Some Very Crucial Things' (Podcast)

We spoke to Lindsey twice for the “Shoot This Now” podcast. You can listen to both episodes below.

The first interview, which focused on “Atlanta Monster,” is available on Apple or right here:

Our second interview focused on Season 2 of Lindsey’s “Up and Vanished” podcast, and is available on Apple or right here:

12 Podcasts That Should Be Turned Into TV Shows (Photos)

With a slew of recent podcast-to-TV adaptations -- from "My Brother, My Brother, and Me" to "Startup" to "2 Dope Queens" -- the industry is primed for even more. With so many podcasts to choose from, which ones should get the small screen treatment? We looked at ones that make for the best long-form series that tackle a unique subject and that have the elements to translate into a visual medium. Here are our picks.
"You Must Remember This"

Karina Longworth has a unique perspective on classic Hollywood that is readily apparent the moment you put on an episode. Just listen to her "Dead Blondes" series, which is running at the time of this writing, and it's clear we need more women educating people about "Hollywood's first century."
Wikimedia
"99% Invisible"

It's like "This American Life" but for the smallest, least interesting sounding stories. Somehow, the producers make something like cargo containers seem interesting. I'd be very curious to see how that would work on TV.
99% Invisible
"The Black Tapes"
A fiction podcast about a batch of supernatural tapes and people with a lot of secrets seems like it should've been a TV series to begin with.
"The Black Tapes"
"Hardcore History With Dan Carlin"
The internet is filled with history podcasts, but few are as intricate and detailed as "Hardcore History." I think it's time to bring back classic History Channel with some long, educational, but entertaining documentaries on history.
"Hardcore History"
"Hello From the Magic Tavern"
It's an improvised story podcast about a guy who fell into a dimensional portal behind a Burger King and ended up in a magic land. It has a homespun, low-key feel that could work as a show if you kept it looking as amateurish as possible.
"Hello from the Magic Tavern"
"How Did This Get Made"

There are plenty of bad movie podcasts on the internet, but few go beyond the typical format, where a bunch of friends talk about, well, a bad movie. "How Did This Get Made" has a number of different segments, a slew of celebrity guests and a visual element that would translate well to TV.
"How Did This Get Made"
"Judge John Hodgman"
Comedian John Hodgman is a judge in this podcast, where he takes the most mundane and absurd cases from everyday people. Now you just need to put that in a "Judge Judy"-style setting.
"Judge John Hodgman"
"Pod Save America"

Any of the Crooked Media podcasts would work on television. The podcasters are incredibly smart and educated in politics (two of the hosts were speechwriters for President Obama) and have a lot of inside scoop. We have enough politics on TV, but Jon, Jon and Tommy can be the "no-bulls--" commentators we need, combined with a bit of White House gossip.
"Pod Save America"
"With Special Guest Lauren Lapkus"
"With Special Guest Lauren Lapkus" is a spiritual successor to "Comedy Bang Bang." Each episode has a different celebrity guest, who engages in improv with Lapkus in a false talk show scenario. It works over audio, but costumes and a set will only heighten the entertainment factor.
"Special Guest With Lauren Lapkus"
"This American Life"
"This American Life" already ran as a Showtime series for two seasons that ended in 2009. Please bring it back? We want to see and not just hear where and how the show's subjects live.
"This American Life"
"Wait Wait... Don't Tell Me"
NPR's weekly trivia show is already good as it is, but imagine if you could see the special guest comedians or the contestants instead of having them call in on the phone?
"Wait Wait... Don't Tell Me"
"Alice Isn't Dead"

The sister podcast to "Welcome to Night Vale" isn't as popular, but it might work better as a visual adaptation. The narrator is so good at explaining the grotesque horrors around her that we almost want to see some of them in action.
"Alice Isn't Dead"

1 of 13

Which ones can translate the best into a visual medium? We broke down some of our favorites

With a slew of recent podcast-to-TV adaptations -- from "My Brother, My Brother, and Me" to "Startup" to "2 Dope Queens" -- the industry is primed for even more. With so many podcasts to choose from, which ones should get the small screen treatment? We looked at ones that make for the best long-form series that tackle a unique subject and that have the elements to translate into a visual medium. Here are our picks.

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12 Podcasts That Should Be Turned Into TV Shows (Photos)

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