Is ‘The Crowded Room’ Based on a True Story? What Is Wrong With Tom Holland’s Character in ‘The Crowded Room’?

Tom Holland plays Danny Milligan, a troubled young man who may or may not be responsible for a horrific shooting, in the new Apple TV+ show, The Crowded Room. Among the mysteries in the show — including how the hair and make up team was able to make the handsome Spider-man actor look so bad — is what is really going on. Instead of going straight from prison to a trial, Danny is being interviewed by a mysterious investigator played by Amanda Seyfried. Danny relives his traumatic backstory through their multiple sessions and continually highlights how lucky he was to have a circle of perfect friends to save him from his worst moments.

There’s clearly something amiss with Danny, but what could it be? What is Amanda Seyfried’s Rya trying to find out about his crime? Did Danny’s best friend Ariana (Sasha Lane) really commit the shooting he’s being framed for? And what happened to Ariana?

Most importantly, is Apple TV+’s The Crowded Room based on a true story?

Here’s everything we can tell you about the inspiration behind The Crowded Room…

What is the Tom Holland Apple TV+ show The Crowded Room About?

The Crowded Room follows investigator Rya Goodwin as she interviews Danny Sullivan in a series of meetings in 1979. Danny is poised to stand trial for a horrific NYC shooting that he claims was caused by friend Ariana (Sasha Lane). Because Ariana has since disappeared, along with Danny’s landlord Yitzak (Lior Raz), Danny is suspected of more foul play. Rya asks Danny about his life, revealed through a series of flashbacks, that all may not be as it seems.

We would love to confirm what is (obviously) going on with Danny, but Apple TV+ considers any hint of the show’s entire concept to be a spoiler. What we can tell you is about the real story that inspired showrunner Akiva Goldsman to create the limited series…

Is The Crowded Room Based on a True Story?

Yes, it is! The Crowded Room was inspired by the acclaimed 1981 nonfiction book, The Minds of Billy Milligan, by Daniel Keyes. After Billy Milligan was arrested for the rape of three students at Ohio State University, psychologists diagnosed him with dissociative personality disorder (then known as multiple personality disorder). His public defenders were the first lawyers who managed to successfully plead insanity on behalf of a defendant with dissociative personality disorder.

According to psychologists, Milligan’s many personalities included upper crust Englishman Arthur, a Yugoslavian communist named Ragen, an escape artist called Tommy, and 19-year-old lesbian Adalana who allegedly committed the sexual assaults.

Obviously The Crowded Room is not about a man being charged with sexual assault. Instead, there has been a non-lethal public shooting in Rockefeller Center. However, you can potentially see how Goldsman drew inspiration for his story from Milligan’s case. But we’re not confirming or denying or spoiling anything. We’re only telling you about the loose inspiration for The Crowded Room.