Digging Deeper: Hartley Tackles America’s Most Bizarre Unsolved Mysteries in ‘Truth Be Buried’
Fresh off his success with CBS’s Tracker, actor and producer Justin Hartley is diving headfirst into the true crime genre with a brand-new docuseries for HBO Max titled Truth Be Buried. The series, which Hartley will both host and executive produce, explores the most bizarre, chilling, and often overlooked unsolved crimes in small-town America. With a mixture of investigative journalism and dramatic reenactments, the show is already being hailed as a potential game-changer in the saturated true crime space.
From Fiction to Fact: Hartley Gets Real
Hartley has built a career playing emotionally complex characters, but this new project marks one of his most personal and passionate ventures to date. In Truth Be Buried, Hartley steps out from behind the curtain and onto the streets, meeting with families, journalists, and amateur sleuths to uncover stories that defy explanation.
“We’re not just telling ghost stories or highlighting cold cases for shock value,” Hartley said in an announcement. “We’re looking at the human cost, the emotional wreckage, and the communities left in limbo. It’s investigative, it’s empathetic, and sometimes it’s downright terrifying.”
A Unique Format With a Personal Touch
Each episode of Truth Be Buried will focus on one unsolved case, ranging from the inexplicable disappearance of an entire family in rural Nebraska to the eerie decades-long silence surrounding the 1997 “Black River Drowning” in Oregon. What sets the show apart is Hartley’s on-the-ground presence—he travels to the crime scenes, pores over case files, and speaks candidly with those still searching for answers.
The series is produced in partnership with veteran true crime producer Althea Ramos (Cold Files, Vanished in Plain Sight), and Hartley’s own production company Change Jar Studios. The tone of the series, according to early previews, strikes a delicate balance between journalistic rigor and emotional storytelling.
Real Stakes, Real Stories
In an era where true crime content often veers toward sensationalism, Hartley says his goal is to restore dignity to the genre. “Every case we cover involves someone’s daughter, someone’s father, someone’s best friend. These aren’t just stories—they’re lives interrupted.”
The show will also shine a light on the tireless efforts of grassroots advocates, amateur sleuths, and local police officers who refuse to give up. Hartley hopes that by giving these people a platform, the show might even help shake loose new leads in some of these cold cases.
“You’d be amazed what happens when a case that’s been forgotten suddenly gets a national spotlight,” he said.
Coming Soon to HBO Max
Truth Be Buried is set to premiere on HBO Max in Spring 2026 with an initial run of eight hour-long episodes. The streamer has already greenlit development on a second season, citing the project’s strong internal reception and high testing scores.
For Justin Hartley, the series represents a new chapter—one where he’s not just portraying heroes on screen but helping seek justice in the real world.
“Storytelling has always been about truth,” Hartley said. “Sometimes that truth is messy, painful, and unsolved. But that doesn’t mean we stop looking.”
Stay tuned for the official trailer and full episode lineup, expected to drop later this year.
