Netflix has released the trailer for Unsolved mysteries, the restart of the documenta-TV series of the 1980s on investigations of cold cases and paranormal phenomena. As you can see in the new Unsolved mysteries In the previous trailer, this new reboot of the franchise will have a much more serious and cinematic documentary focus than the original series, but that does not mean that we lose all the charm. The dramatic reenactment segments are alive and well, and thanks to America’s current macabre fascination with real crimes, conspiracies, and unexplained phenomena, Unsolved mysteries invites an interactive element to the crime solving journey that is sure to appeal to viewers.
You can get the full Netflix synopsis Unsolved mysteries below, along with the poster:
“The iconic UNSOLVED MYSTERIES series is back! Fusing elements characteristic of the original series with an immersive and character-based contemporary narrative, the 12 new episodes are rooted in the experiences of ordinary people who have lived the unthinkable, of the trauma of a loved one, unexplained disappearance or horrible death, to the surprise of a strange paranormal encounter Along with detectives and journalists, family members offer clues, present theories and identify suspects, hoping that a viewer has the key to solving the Mystery: From the creators of the original docuseries, Cosgrove / Meurer Productions and 21 Laps Entertainment, the producers of Stranger stuff“
Unsolved mysteries Creators John Cosgrove and Terry Dunn Meurer also released a lengthy statement about the series’ history, legacy, and return. You can read that long piece, below:
“UNSOLVED MYSTERIES evolved from three Cosgrove / Meurer Productions specials [CMP] produced for NBC in 1985 called Missing: Have You Seen This Person? When seven of those missing person cases were resolved as a result of the viewers’ advice, we began to wonder if we could solve additional types of cases. We listed all the mystery categories we could think of: murders, missing people, wanted fugitives, UFOs, and other paranormal stories, treasures, lost love, theft, home invasions, even unexplained creatures. That combination of stories became UNSOLVED MYSTERIES.
First NBC climbed seven UNSolved MYSTERIES specials on different days and times, with little publicity or promotion; Still, the public still found each installment and the ratings were excellent. The network debuted UNSOLVED MYSTERIES as a weekly series in 1988, with 22-24 episodes per season. Back then, the internet didn’t exist, so we hired a clipping service to search newspapers across the country for mysteries with unique twists. Once the series became very popular, fans began to submit their own mysteries, and our research team reviewed the huge mail bags from viewers. Law enforcement agencies also recognized the success of the program in solving cases and began submitting submissions. The most difficult part of our job was selecting only four stories for each episode. There is an overwhelming number of unsolved mysteries in the world, and we wish we could solve them all.
We consider the UNSolved MYSTERIES as a “mystery” show, not a “true crime” show. When choosing cases, we have always sought diversity in races, ages, places and times. We’ve covered classic mysteries like Bigfoot and high-profile historical crimes ranging from the Black Dahlia assassination to the Kennedy assassinations.
CMP is proud that MYSTERIES UNSOLVED was the first television series to ask viewers to help solve real mysteries, and the concept worked. At the end of each episode, we had a 1-800 number for viewers to call with advice. On the night of a broadcast, 30-40 operators were ready to answer calls at our call center, and law enforcement was generally available to examine the cables when the phones were turned on. Every time a group of calls originated from a single region, that was a good sign that the case would be resolved. Sometimes the police even made an arrest the same night as the broadcast. A fugitive captured as a result of the series actually exclaimed, “UNRESOLVED MYSTERIES! That’s my favorite show,” while being handcuffed.
We’ve seen how unanswered questions can haunt families and detectives for decades. People communicate with us because they appreciate the transformative power of our program and trust that we will present the facts of each case in an honest and balanced way. Until now, UNSOLVED MYSTERIES has helped solve more than 260 cases. This spring alone, our extensive investigation and record keeping helped solve a 30-year case. It is gratifying to know that we have had an impact on people’s lives.
The intergenerational fan base for UNSOLVED MYSTERIES is incredible. We will listen to viewers, who are now in their 20s and 30s, saying, “I used to leak episodes behind my parents’ backs when I was young.” They all seem to have a favorite segment that completely freaked them out. We have learned that the public likes to be afraid, and real stories scare people.
21 Laps Entertainment has been a great partner in our new company, and we are delighted to air UNSOLVED MYSTERIES on millions of homes on Netflix. UNSOLVED MYSTERIES will now be more interactive than ever. Members can press pause to study a photo or document. They can rewind and revisit the case details at any time, options that were not available to our first followers.
When an episode ends, anyone with relevant information goes to unsolved.com and, if applicable, to a law enforcement agency. We are staffed to ensure that leads are quickly passed on to the appropriate parties. We know that our loyal audience will miss presenter Robert Stack (1919-2003) as much as we do, but we hope lovers of old and new mysteries will embrace this next chapter, knowing that no one could fill Bob’s shoes. “
Unsolved mysteries premieres on Netflix on July 1.
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