Amazon Studios has acquired “Linda And Monica,” a Black List script about the relationship between Linda Tripp and Monica Lewinsky, an individual with knowledge of the buy told TheWrap.
The script was written by Flint Wainess; the film will be produced by Todd Black, Jason Blumenthal and Steve Tisch.
The buzzed-about script was on the 2016 Black List, the annual list of the industry’s best unproduced screenplays. The story tracks the true story behind the relationship between Lewinsky and Tripp, who was a close friend to Lewinsky before the Bill Clinton scandal erupted.
Before that destroyed their friendship, the pair both worked in public affairs at the Pentagon. Unbeknownst to Lewinsky, Tripp secretly recorded phone conversations in the 90s with her friend that detailed her sexual affair with Clinton, who was president at the time. When Tripp finally leaked the tapes, which led to impeachment hearings, she claimed she did so for the good of the country.
Ryan Murphy also has a telling of the story in the works at FX for his anthology series, “American Crime Story.” He optioned Jeffrey Toobin’s best-seller “A Vast Conspiracy: The Real Sex Scandal That Nearly Brought Down a President” to base it off of. Shooting is expected to start at the end of the year, with Sarah Paulson attached to star.