EXCLUSIVE: One of the most polarizing court cases in recent memory is set to receive the Hollywood treatment. Sources have informed Deadline that Prime Video, in collaboration with Warner Bros Television, is developing a new limited series centered around the Karen Read trial. The talented Elizabeth Banks is slated to portray the woman at the heart of this highly publicized case. Justin Noble has been appointed as the showrunner, and he will also write the series and serve as an executive producer. Notably, acclaimed producer David E. Kelley will also be involved in an executive producing capacity.
Justin Noble is under an overall deal with WB Television, making this collaboration a significant step in his career. In addition to Banks, who will executive produce through her Brownstone Productions banner, her producing partner Max Handelman and Krissy Wall will also be part of the production team. Matt Tinker will contribute as an executive producer through his David E. Kelley Productions banner, alongside other executive producers including Jen Sargent, Marshall Lewy, Aaron Hart, and Jeni Mulein from Wondery. Furthermore, Rachel Stockman and Dan Abrams will executive produce through their Law & Crime company.
This upcoming series is based on the Law & Crime and Wondery podcast titled "Karen," which explores the trial that gripped the nation and catapulted Karen Read into the public spotlight. The story begins when a Boston police officer is found dead in the snow, leading to intense scrutiny of his girlfriend, Karen Read. The case has fractured the community, with some believing she is guilty of first-degree murder, while others argue she is a victim of a significant cover-up by state and local law enforcement.
The series aims to delve into society's fixation with true crime, the allure of conspiracy theories, and the escalating crisis of trust in our institutions. The trial became a consistent topic on morning talk shows across the country and was quickly transformed into multiple news specials, as well as a Netflix documentary, even before the final verdict was announced.
Insiders have shared with Deadline that Brownstone Productions had been developing this project for a considerable time. In recent months, they began assembling the creative team, starting with the selection of Justin Noble as showrunner. Following the conclusion of the trial this past spring, they began finalizing the remaining production elements, leading to the involvement of David E. Kelley—renowned for crafting some of the best courtroom dramas over the past three decades—as a producer, alongside Wondery and Law & Crime.
This series represents a reunion for Elizabeth Banks and Prime Video, who recently collaborated on the critically acclaimed series The Better Sister. The project garnered some of the best reviews of Banks's career. She has also made notable appearances in the FX series Mrs. America. Justin Noble's recent work includes the HBO Max series The Sex Lives of College Girls, and he has also contributed writing to popular shows like Never Have I Ever and Brooklyn Nine-Nine. Meanwhile, David E. Kelley is coming off the success of another courtroom drama, Presumed Innocent for Apple, which has received multiple Emmy nominations, including Best Actor for Jake Gyllenhaal. Wondery is also celebrating the success of their Emmy-nominated series Dying for Sex, and they are the producers behind the acclaimed Dr. Death.
For representation, Banks and Brownstone are represented by UTA, Untitled Entertainment, and Johnson Shapiro Slewett & Kole. Justin Noble is repped by WME and Hansen Jacobsen, while David E. Kelley is represented by CAA.
