The wildly popular podcast Serial captivated listeners last year, and was downloaded 80 million times. In the first season, the spinoff of the public radio show This American Life followed the story of a man imprisoned for the murder of his high school girlfriend – but who maintains his innocence. The podcast is set to release its second season of episodes this fall on a totally different subject, and the rumored topic this time is the case of Idaho native Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl.
Maxim first reported that Serial producer Sarah Koenig was spotted at the soldier's preliminary hearing last week in Texas. Bergdahl left his Afghanistan post in 2009 and was captured by the Taliban. The Hailey, Idaho native was held for five years and released back to the U.S. in a prisoner trade. The soldier is charged with desertion and misbehavior before the enemy.
Maxim reports two of Bergdahl’s former unit members have been interviewed by Serial producers. The New York Times followed-up with a piece confirming screenwriter and former journalist Mark Boal is working on a movie on the topic. The Times also reports Boal will co-produce the Serial season.
But the staff behind the podcast aren’t giving anything away. In an email, a production manager says the Serial team has been reporting on a “variety of stories” over the last few months. She says the topic for the next two seasons has not yet been confirmed.
Find reporter Frankie Barnhill on Twitter @FABarnhill
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