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 bold new docuseries for HBO Max titled Truth Be Buried. The series, which Hartley will both host and executive produce, explores some of the most bizarre, chilling, and tragically overlooked unsolved crimes in small-town America. With a mix of investigative journalism, emotional storytelling, and dramatic reenactments, the show is being hailed as a potential game-changer in the true crime space—and a major evolution in Hartley’s career.
From Fiction to Fact: Hartley Gets Real
Hartley has built his career playing emotionally complex characters in fictional worlds. Now, with Truth Be Buried, he steps into the real world, engaging directly with victims’ families, small-town detectives, and passionate amateur sleuths. The series offers a unique blend of personal vulnerability and journalistic integrity, with Hartley often narrating from the very places these crimes occurred.
“We’re not just telling ghost stories or recycling cold cases for shock value,” Hartley emphasized in an announcement. “We’re asking hard questions, listening to real pain, and trying to give voice to the voiceless. It’s investigative, it’s empathetic, and yes—it’s sometimes downright terrifying.”
A Unique Format With Emotional Resonance
Each hour-long episode of Truth Be Buried focuses on a single unsolved case. Ranging from the inexplicable disappearance of a family in rural Nebraska to the silent enigma of the 1997 “Black River Drowning” in Oregon, the series approaches each case with sensitivity, depth, and a commitment to honoring the people involved.
Unlike many true crime shows that sensationalize tragedy, Hartley’s project prioritizes emotional truth. He spends time with survivors, revisits evidence with local law enforcement, and allows space for grief, frustration, and healing.
The show is produced in collaboration with veteran true crime producer Althea Ramos (Cold Files, Vanished in Plain Sight) and Hartley’s own Change Jar Studios. The tone, according to early footage, is rich in atmosphere, humanity, and a quiet, persistent search for closure.
Real Stakes, Real Stories
In a media landscape where true crime content often veers toward exploitation, Hartley’s approach is refreshingly humane. He has spoken at length about the responsibility of storytellers to avoid retraumatizing survivors while still honoring their truth.
“Every case we cover involves someone’s daughter, someone’s father, someone’s best friend. These aren’t just stories—they’re lives interrupted,” Hartley said.
By amplifying the efforts of grassroots advocates, local journalists, and tireless law enforcement officials, Truth Be Buried aims not just to inform but to inspire.
Coming Soon to HBO Max
Truth Be Buried will premiere on HBO Max in Spring 2026 with an initial eight-episode run. Thanks to strong internal reception and high test audience scores, a second season has already been greenlit.
For Hartley, the series marks a new kind of heroism—one rooted not in fiction, but in the pursuit of justice and truth. His role in the series is not just to narrate, but to listen, guide, and reflect.
“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 an official trailer and full episode guide later this year.
