After the debut of American Murder: Laci Peterson on Netflix, Scott Peterson has been drawing comparisons to a well-known character played by Ben Affleck, not just because of their striking physical similarities.
Despite the case being extensively covered over the years, there is renewed interest in the conviction of Scott, who was found guilty of the 2002 murder of his wife Laci and their unborn child Conner. This renewed focus is due to the recent release of new docu-series on the case by both Netflix and Peacock.
While he continues to fight for a new trial, true crime enthusiasts have been unable to ignore the striking similarities between Scott Peterson and Ben Affleck’s portrayal of Nick Dunne in Gone Girl.
One person on X/Twitter noted the striking physical similarity between Scott Peterson and Ben Affleck, stating, “It’s crazy how much they look alike. Even though Affleck has already played a similar role in Gone Girl, he would be the perfect choice to portray Scott in a movie about Laci Peterson.”
One person commented, “I am currently watching the Laci Peterson documentary on Netflix and it is shocking how closely Ben Affleck’s character in Gone Girl resembles Scott Peterson.”
“The eerie Laci Peterson true crime documentary always reminds me of Scott, and every time I see him, I can’t help but think that Ben Affleck would be a perfect choice to play him in a movie. They both have a similar somber expression,”commented a third person.
Similarly, there are parallels between the fictional Gone Girl story and the actual Peterson case.
In both cases, a husband is suspected of being involved in the disappearance of his wife, with the influence of media and public perception heavily influencing how the situation is perceived.
Nonetheless, in the film adaptation directed by David Fincher and based on Gillian Flynn’s novel from 2012, it is ultimately uncovered that Nick’s wife, Amy (played by Rosamund Pike), orchestrated her own vanishing act in order to incriminate her spouse.
On the other hand, the Peterson case is based on a genuine tragedy, as Laci was killed when she was eight months pregnant and Scott Peterson was eventually found guilty of her murder.
Despite this, the similarities have continued to be brought up over time, with numerous people speculating that Flynn may have used the case as inspiration.
In 2020, a Gone Girl fan posted on Reddit and claimed that the entire plot is essentially a fictionalized version of the Laci/Scott Peterson case, albeit with a different outcome.
According to them, both Scott Peterson and Nick Dunne (played by Ben Affleck) were seen as ideal, quintessentially American husbands, with picturesque homes, seemingly happy marriages, and successful careers.
Despite their outward appearance, the couple was actually facing financial difficulties, particularly Scott. Even before Laci’s disappearance, he was burdened with significant debt. Additionally, Nick’s lifestyle was largely supported by his wife’s trust fund.
In both instances, prosecutors considered the motive of collecting life insurance from their wives.
“The aftermath of the crime also bears striking similarities: much like Affleck’s character Nick, Scott also struggled to display genuine emotions when his wife went missing.”
The Redditor also pointed out the pregnancy reveal of Amy’s character at the end of the movie, as well as the attention from the media on both the made-up and real-life events.
In a 2012 discussion with Entertainment Weekly, Flynn refuted claims that Gone Girl was based on a specific real-life crime, although she did recognize the parallels.
“I had no particular plans in mind. However, she mentioned the good-looking couple of Scott and Laci Peterson during an interview with the outlet.”
Scott was convicted of murdering Laci
“The couples featured on TV are always attractive, which is why they are chosen. It is rare for unattractive individuals who have gone missing to become a sensation.”
“It could have been any one of those types of cases, but what particularly intrigued me was the process of choosing and presenting a tragedy.”
“To a certain extent, I deconstructed parts of it. What can I do to generate more attention from the media, and how can I make it appear credible enough for the media to flock to it?”
Fincher’s statements were more straightforward, as reported by the Evening Standard, quoting him as saying that Affleck resembles Scott Peterson more than himself.
Currently available for streaming are American Murder: Laci Peterson on Netflix, Face to Face with Scott Peterson on Peacock, and Gone Girl on MGM+ through Prime Video.
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