Yahoo News Amazon Lands Idaho Murders Doc Series From Directors Liz Garbus, Matthew Galkin
Prime Video is taking a big step into true crime.
The Amazon-owned streamer has ordered a documentary series about the 2022 University of Idaho murders and the investigation, arrest and upcoming trial of Bryan Kohberger in connection with the case. The series, from Skydance Television and Story Syndicate, is based on an upcoming nonfiction book by best-selling author James Patterson and journalist Vicky Ward.
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Liz Garbus (Lost Girls, I’ll Be Gone in the Dark) and Matthew Galkin (Murder in the Bayou) are set to co-direct the docuseries. Amazon MGM Studios, Skydance and Story Syndicate are also developing a scripted series based on the case, with Garbus attached to helm the first episode.
The series will also feature interviews with the mother and stepfather of victim Madison Mogen and the family of Ethan Chapin. Mogen, Chapin, Kaylee Goncalves and Xana Kernodle were killed in an apartment in Moscow, Idaho, in November 2022; Kohberger was later charged with the murders. He’s scheduled to go to trial in 2025.
“We are honored that the Chapin and Laramie families have decided to exclusively collaborate with us to shine a light on the personal stories of Ethan and Madison, as well as Xana and Kaylee,” Garbus and Galkin said in a statement. “Our unparalleled access to the families and closest friends will allow us to paint intimate and authentic portraits of all four victims and their lives at the University of Idaho, which were so tragically cut short. We couldn’t ask for better partners than Skydance and James Patterson Entertainment to help bring the definitive telling of this important story to the world.”
Added Skydance TV president Matt Thunell, “The events that transpired in Moscow, Idaho shocked the world and left many unanswered questions,. With Liz Garbus and James Patterson at the helm, and with the involvement of the Chapin and Laramie families, we will shed new light on these horrific murders and honor the four innocent lives that were taken too soon.”
Both the docuseries and the potential scripted series stem from Patterson’s first-look deal with Skydance TV. The company is also producing Prime Video’s Cross, based on Patterson’s Alex Cross novels and starring Aldis Hodge, along with Paramount Television Studios.
Skydance’s David Ellison, Dana Goldberg Matt Thunell are executive producing with Patterson, Bill Robinson and Patrick Santa for James Patterson Entertainment; Garbus, Dan Cogan, Jon Bardin and Kate Barry for Story Syndicate; and Galkin via his Fairhaven company.
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