Craig Conover Debuts as Shirtless Leading Man in Bravo’s First Scripted Microdrama

Bravo is stepping into the scripted microdrama space, and it’s tapped Craig Conover to be its first leading man. 

‘Southern Charm’ cast member Craig Conover stars in ‘Charmed By a Southern Monster’ 

The Southern Charm star will play Hunter Caldwell in Charmed By a Southern Monster, the network announced on Friday. He’ll appear alongside Nicole Mattox, who plays Maeve Marchant, in the new series, which blends soapy romance, workplace rivalry, and small-town mystery. It launches Monday, November 9 exclusively on the Peacock mobile app. 

Charmed By a Southern Monster follows Maeve, “a brilliant corporate fixer sent to convince and seduce Hunter, a rumored murderer, into selling his family’s estate,” per Bravo’s synopsis of the show. “But when she discovers that the town’s most feared man may actually be its most misunderstood, and the only person who can protect her from her dangerous ex-boyfriend, Maeve becomes entangled in Hunter’s world. As family secrets and a billion-dollar development deal threaten to unravel their growing connection, she must confront her past and decide how much she’s willing to risk for love.” 

“Who’s ready for Hunter & Maeve’s story,” Conover wrote on Instagram after the series was announced. He also shared a first-look image from the show, which depicts a shirtless Hunter holding an ax while Mattox’s Maeve gazes at him. The pair are standing in front of a large mansion and framed by oak trees draped by Spanish moss. 

Fans react to Bravo’s first scripted microdrama: ‘WTF is going on here’

Commenters on social media were clearly not prepared for Conover’s pivot from reality star to actor. Many assumed the announcement was a joke. 

“No way peacock or bravo approved this lmao. But thank you for the laughs,” one person wrote on his post. 

“It’s not even april fools wtf is going on here,” another chimed in.

Others were just excited to see Conover in a new light.

“YES to whatever this is,” one wrote. 

Charmed By a Southern Monster was one of several new show and renewal announcements Bravo made Friday ahead of Bravo Fan Fest Charleston on October 24.

The network has also greenlit the second installment of the Next Gen franchise, Next Gen Atlanta. Meanwhile, Next Gen NYC will return for season 3, In The City has been renewed for season 2, and Southern Hospitality will be back for season 5.  

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