--- title: "Melanie Lynskey stars in 'Mushroom Murders' at Paramount+, a six-episode series on the 97 days after a fatal lunch" description: "Lynskey also executive produces the limited series about the Erin Patterson case, and it arrives as 'Yellowjackets' heads into its final season." url: https://tv-movies.skoop.news/melanie-lynskey-to-play-erin-patterson-in-mushroom-murders-s-3bed27/ published: 2026-10-28T04:13:06.680224-04:00 modified: 2026-10-28T04:13:06.680268-04:00 section: "TV & Movies" publisher: "skoop.news" language: en keywords: ["Paramount", "Mushroom Murders", "Don't Say Good Luck", "Beverley McGarvey", "CBS' Matlock", "Daina Reid", "Erin Patterson", "Victoria", "Yellowjackets", "Australian"] hashtags: ["#MushroomMurders", "#DonTSayGoodLuck", "#BeverleyMcGarvey", "#Movie", "#movieclips"] image: https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/c/c9/A_movie_theater_concession_stand_in_Hiawassee%2C_Georgia.jpg/1280px-A_movie_theater_concession_stand_in_Hiawassee%2C_Georgia.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail --- # Melanie Lynskey stars in 'Mushroom Murders' at Paramount+, a six-episode series on the 97 days after a fatal lunch > Lynskey also executive produces the limited series about the Erin Patterson case, and it arrives as 'Yellowjackets' heads into its final season. Published 2026-10-28 · Updated 2026-10-28 · TV & Movies, [skoop.news](https://skoop.news/) ## In brief - Ninety-seven days passed between a family lunch in Victoria, Australia, and the arrest of the woman who served it, and a new Paramount+ series is built around that stretch. [[1]](https://variety.com/2026/tv/news/melanie-lynskey-erin-patterson-mushroom-murders-series-1236932452/) - The series is based on the case of Erin Patterson, an Australian woman who was convicted on multiple counts of murder and attempted murder. [[1]](https://variety.com/2026/tv/news/melanie-lynskey-erin-patterson-mushroom-murders-series-1236932452/) - Daina Reid will direct all six episodes of the series. [[1]](https://variety.com/2026/tv/news/melanie-lynskey-erin-patterson-mushroom-murders-series-1236932452/) ## The 97 days at the center Ninety-seven days passed between a family lunch in Victoria, Australia, and the arrest of the woman who served it, and a new Paramount+ series is built around that stretch. [[1]](https://variety.com/2026/tv/news/melanie-lynskey-erin-patterson-mushroom-murders-series-1236932452/) Melanie Lynskey is set to star in the limited series 'Mushroom Murders,' which has been greenlit at Paramount+. [[1]](https://variety.com/2026/tv/news/melanie-lynskey-erin-patterson-mushroom-murders-series-1236932452/) Lynskey will also executive produce the series in addition to starring. [[1]](https://variety.com/2026/tv/news/melanie-lynskey-erin-patterson-mushroom-murders-series-1236932452/) The drama is based on a notorious 2023 homicide case in Australia. [[2]](https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/tv/tv-news/melanie-lynskey-paramount-plus-mushroom-murders-1236741367/) ## The case behind the series The series is based on the case of Erin Patterson, an Australian woman who was convicted on multiple counts of murder and attempted murder. [[1]](https://variety.com/2026/tv/news/melanie-lynskey-erin-patterson-mushroom-murders-series-1236932452/) In 2023, Patterson served individual beef wellingtons to her estranged in-laws and their relatives at a lunch in her Victoria home. [[2]](https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/tv/tv-news/melanie-lynskey-paramount-plus-mushroom-murders-1236741367/) Patterson allegedly prepared the food with highly toxic death cap mushrooms without her guests knowing. [[2]](https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/tv/tv-news/melanie-lynskey-paramount-plus-mushroom-murders-1236741367/) Three guests died. [[2]](https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/tv/tv-news/melanie-lynskey-paramount-plus-mushroom-murders-1236741367/) ## Who is making it Daina Reid will direct all six episodes of the series. [[1]](https://variety.com/2026/tv/news/melanie-lynskey-erin-patterson-mushroom-murders-series-1236932452/) Soapbox Pictures will produce. [[1]](https://variety.com/2026/tv/news/melanie-lynskey-erin-patterson-mushroom-murders-series-1236932452/) Beverley McGarvey, president of Network 10 and head of streaming for Paramount Australia, said the series is an ambitious project that brings a gripping real-life story to the screen with the scale, quality and creative vision audiences expect from Paramount+. [[1]](https://variety.com/2026/tv/news/melanie-lynskey-erin-patterson-mushroom-murders-series-1236932452/) She added that Lynskey's remarkable talent will be integral to the series both on screen and as an executive producer. [[1]](https://variety.com/2026/tv/news/melanie-lynskey-erin-patterson-mushroom-murders-series-1236932452/) ## Lynskey's recent run Lynskey currently stars in the Paramount+ series 'Yellowjackets,' which is going into its fourth and final season. [[1]](https://variety.com/2026/tv/news/melanie-lynskey-erin-patterson-mushroom-murders-series-1236932452/) She has received two Emmy nominations for outstanding lead actress in a drama for her work on the show. [[1]](https://variety.com/2026/tv/news/melanie-lynskey-erin-patterson-mushroom-murders-series-1236932452/) She was also nominated in 2023 for guest starring in the HBO series 'The Last of Us.' [[1]](https://variety.com/2026/tv/news/melanie-lynskey-erin-patterson-mushroom-murders-series-1236932452/) Her recent work includes the Netflix movie Don't Say Good Luck and a guest role on CBS' Matlock opposite her husband, Jason Ritter. [[2]](https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/tv/tv-news/melanie-lynskey-paramount-plus-mushroom-murders-1236741367/) Gersh represents her. [[1]](https://variety.com/2026/tv/news/melanie-lynskey-erin-patterson-mushroom-murders-series-1236932452/) ## What it means for you If you subscribe to Paramount+, the final season of Yellowjackets premieres there on Nov. 20. [[2]](https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/tv/tv-news/melanie-lynskey-paramount-plus-mushroom-murders-1236741367/) Lynskey currently stars in that series, and 'Mushroom Murders' is also greenlit at Paramount+. [[1]](https://variety.com/2026/tv/news/melanie-lynskey-erin-patterson-mushroom-murders-series-1236932452/) If you want the full story on screen, the limited series runs six episodes under one director and covers the 97 days between the lunch and Patterson's arrest. [[1]](https://variety.com/2026/tv/news/melanie-lynskey-erin-patterson-mushroom-murders-series-1236932452/) ## Sources 1. [Melanie Lynskey to Play Erin Patterson in 'Mushroom Murders' Series](https://variety.com/2026/tv/news/melanie-lynskey-erin-patterson-mushroom-murders-series-1236932452/) — Variety 2. [Melanie Lynskey to Topline Paramount+ Limited Series ‘Mushroom Murders’](https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/tv/tv-news/melanie-lynskey-paramount-plus-mushroom-murders-1236741367/) — The Hollywood Reporter Image: Photo (illustrative): Harrison Keely / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 4.0 (https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:A_movie_theater_concession_stand_in_Hiawassee,_Georgia.jpg) --- Written from the sources above and checked twice (rules and an independent model) before publishing. How we work: https://skoop.news/how-we-work/ · Corrections: https://skoop.news/corrections/