Cruel Summer release date, cast, synopsis, trailer, and more

We’re slipping closer to a summer haze, which means you’re going to want to get your thriller list ready as spring blooms and then burns into the hottest season of the year. On that list should definitely be Freeform‘s upcoming psychological thriller, Cruel Summer.

The series, created by Bert V. Royal and executive produced by Jessica Biel, takes us to a Texas town where the popular thrive and things are done just so. But in the wake of a town belle’s disappearance, what’s so perfect and peachy keen begins to unravel and rot to reveal the people behind the brightest smiles aren’t so perfect themselves.

Set over the course of three summers from 1993 -1995, Cruel Summer focuses on two teen girls: Kate Wallis (Olivia Holt), the popular one who seemingly has it all and then loses it in a blink of an eye. And Jeanette Turner, a girl on the outside who finds her way into the in-crowd only to be thrust out and made into a pariah.

Certain to focus a tight lens on the teen experience and the pressures of growing up while also dealing with a thrilling mystery, Cruel Summer–with showrunner Tia Napolitano–looks to be taking viewers on a wild ride. Here’s more on what we know about the series, from its release date to a preview of its twists and turns.

Cruel Summer release date

The thrilling series is set to debut Tuesday, April 20 at 9 p.m./ET on Freeform in a 2-hour event. Subsequent episodes will air Tuesdays at 10 p.m./ET. New episodes of Cruel Summer will be available to stream on Freeform and Hulu the following day.

Cruel Summer cast

Olivia Holt stars as Kate Wallis, the most popular girl in town who goes missing over the summer.

Chiara Aurelia will appear as Jeanette Turner, an awkward teen who admires Kate. Choosing to follow in her footsteps, Jeanette transforms herself into a girl who inspires the envy of her peers. Her time in the limelight, however, fades and by the summer of ’95, she’s absolutely despised.

Barrett Carnahan plays Derek Turner, Jeanette’s older brother who makes a point of being a protective force in her life despite also being away most of the time at college. Their relationship is characterized as playful and strong.

Andrea Anders appears Joy Wallis, the definition of a modern Texas woman in the ’90s. Joy is meticulous and domineering, using her wealth and polish as an influence over the ladies she lunches with and anyone who dares get in her way.

Benjamin J. Cain Jr. will play Rod Wallis, Kate’s stepfather who leads with his heart. The former football player, however, is challenged over the painful three years spanning Kate’s disappearance in the series.

Sarah Drew portrays Cindy Turner, Jeanette’s mother who was a popular girl herself as a teen. But now with her daughter in the spotlight as the most hated girl in town, she’s struggling to hold her family together.

And Nicole Bilderback is Denise Harper, Jeannette’s attorney who believes her story but refuses to pull punches or leave questions unanswered no matter how uncomfortable it makes people.

The cast also includes:

• Allius Barnes (role unknown)
• Blake Lee as Martin Harris
• Brooklyn Sudano (role unknown)
• Froy Gutierrez as Jamie Henson
• Harley Quinn Smith (role unknown)
• Michael Landes (role unknown)

Cruel Summer synopsis

Per Deadline:

"Cruel Summer is a psychological thriller that follows two young women: Kate Wallis (Olivia Holt), the popular girl with a charmed life who one day goes missing, and Jeanette Turner (Chiara Aurelia), the nerdy wannabe who is accused of being connected to Kate’s disappearance. All signs point to Jeanette’s guilt, but is Kate really who she seems to be? Set over three summers and told through shifting points of view, the series challenges perception and follows how one girl can go from being a sweet outlier to the most despised person in America."

Cruel Summer trailer

Watch the trailer below: