‘Making a Murderer’ Creators, George Clooney to Develop Scripted Series
Laura Ricciardi and Moira Demos team with Clooney and Grant Heslov’s Smokehouse Pictures for adaptation of “America’s Most Admired Lawbreaker”
Reid Nakamura | June 16, 2016 @ 11:41 AM
Last Updated: June 16, 2016 @ 11:45 AM
“Making a Murderer” creators Laura Ricciardi and Moira Demos will tackle a scripted series as their next TV project.
The filmmakers will team with George Clooney and Grant Heslov‘s Smokehouse Pictures on an adaptation of the Huffington Post series “America’s Most Admired Lawbreaker.” The project is the first under Smokehouse’s new first-look deal with Sonar Entertainment.
Ricciardi and Demos will adapt the series with Nicki Paluga.
Written by journalist Steven Brill, “America’s Most Admired Lawbreaker” is the true story of a pharmaceutical company that created a powerful drug and marketed it aggressively to children and the elderly while allegedly manipulating and hiding data about its terrible side effects. The drug company was investigated and agreed to pay more than $2 billion in penalties and settlements, but made a reported $30 billion on sales of the drug worldwide.
“We couldn’t be more excited to be in business with George and Grant and their talented team at Smokehouse,” Sonar CEO Thomas Lesinski said. “Smokehouse has a stellar track record of delivering commercial and critically acclaimed content. Smokehouse will be a great partner for Sonar Entertainment, as the two companies align perfectly in our approaches to premium TV programming.”
'Making a Murderer': 7 Revelations from Latest Interview With Steven Avery's Former Lawyer (Photos)
Jerry Buting represented Steven Avery during his murder trial depicted in Netflix's "Making a Murderer," in which Avery was convicted of killing 25-year-old Teresa Halbach. Debate whether Avery is innocent or guilty has swept the nation since the show's premiere, and Buting has now spoken with ReasonTV about the intriguing case.
ReasonTV
1. Buting still believes Steven Avery is innocent "When I look at the evidence, I never bought the state's case," he said in the interview. "There certainly was reasonable doubt. He had no motive, he was going to get a $400,000 tax free check ... separate from his $36 million lawsuit."
Netflix
2. Why the defense never named any alternative suspects When asked why the defense never submitted names of other suspects when they believed Avery was innocent, Buting said that the "rule of law requires the defense to prove motive, but the state is allowed to give alternate theories."
Netflix
3. A Reddit theory was actually one he wanted to present Buting claims that he has read the alternate theories on who killed Teresa Halbach, and that one of them was actually part of what he wanted to present during the trial. "Some of it, yes, but we were stopped by the judge's rulings," he said.
Netflix
4. He's not sure what Kathleen Zellner has up her sleeve Avery's new lawyer, Kathleen Zellner, who specializes in wrongful convictions, has been very vocal on social media, claiming she has found fresh evidence that will exonerate Avery, as well as cellphone evidence that would give him an alibi. "I'm not sure exactly what she's referring to," Buting said. Zellner will file a brief on August 29 and perhaps reveal all.
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5. Bone evidence was not submitted to trial Buting elaborated on how bones were found in three different locations. "If the jury believed she (Teresa) was burned elsewhere, then Steven Avery is innocent and they would have had to acquit. In one way or another, they were moved." He also said that the quarry pit should have been treated like an archaeological site with maps and grids, and he believes that the bones were burned elsewhere, scooped up by the burn barrel and then dumped into the Avery pit.
Netflix
6. His thoughts when Avery was convicted "All I could think of was what was going through his mind, thinking, 'oh my God, not again. I put my faith in the jury once before, I was wrongly convicted.' It was hard for Avery to deal with, and for me and Dean to deal with."
Netflix
7. Buting's daughter was disgusted by people calling her dad "sexy" When the documentary came out, people started calling the attorney "sexy." Buting's daughter was so disgusted by it, she deleted her Facebook.
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Jerry Buting details Kathleen Zellner’s new evidence and reveals why he didn’t submit alternative suspects during the trial in a new interview with ReasonTV
Jerry Buting represented Steven Avery during his murder trial depicted in Netflix's "Making a Murderer," in which Avery was convicted of killing 25-year-old Teresa Halbach. Debate whether Avery is innocent or guilty has swept the nation since the show's premiere, and Buting has now spoken with ReasonTV about the intriguing case.
ReasonTV
Netflix
