Lifetime Expands ‘Ripped From The Headlines’ Slate with Five Movies Inspired by Ann Rule (Exclusive)
Lifetime has greenlit five new movies for its “Ripped from the Headlines” slate, all from best-selling true crime author Ann Rule, Variety has learned exclusively. Additionally, Ashley Williams and Robin Givens will make their small-screen directorial debuts with two of these films.
These five films come from Rule’s books “Danger in the Dorm,” “Mortan Danger,” “Practice to Deceive,” “Bitter Harvest” and “Empty Promises” and are being prepped for a summer launch. As part of Lifetime’s Broader Focus Initiative, four out of the five directors of these films are women, and three out of the five films were written by women.
“Bitter Harvest” tells the story of a brilliant doctor and mother who had the epitome of a picture perfect life with three children, an adoring husband and a beautiful house in an opulent neighborhood — but behind the curtain was a rocky marriage that takes a terrible turn and leaves her family in ruin.
These five films come from Rule’s books “Danger in the Dorm,” “Mortan Danger,” “Practice to Deceive,” “Bitter Harvest” and “Empty Promises” and are being prepped for a summer launch. As part of Lifetime’s Broader Focus Initiative, four out of the five directors of these films are women, and three out of the five films were written by women.
“Bitter Harvest” tells the story of a brilliant doctor and mother who had the epitome of a picture perfect life with three children, an adoring husband and a beautiful house in an opulent neighborhood — but behind the curtain was a rocky marriage that takes a terrible turn and leaves her family in ruin.
- 3/12/2020
- by Danielle Turchiano
- Variety Film + TV
Neve Campbell is a long way from the Sallingers’ San Francisco home — and Grey’s Anatomy’s Seattle Grace Hospital, for that matter — in the Lifetime original movie An Amish Murder, premiering Sunday at 9/8c.
Based on the book Sworn to Silence, the telepic stars Campbell as Kate Burkholder, a woman who grew up Amish but left her Ohio community as a young girl after a series of brutal murders. Years later, Kate returns to her small town as the Chief of Police, where old wounds are opened when she is tasked with solving a new string of killings.
Campbell...
Based on the book Sworn to Silence, the telepic stars Campbell as Kate Burkholder, a woman who grew up Amish but left her Ohio community as a young girl after a series of brutal murders. Years later, Kate returns to her small town as the Chief of Police, where old wounds are opened when she is tasked with solving a new string of killings.
Campbell...
- 1/5/2013
- by Matt Webb Mitovich
- TVLine.com
CBS Poppy Montgomery
On Tuesday, Poppy Montgomery wrapped her first season of shooting CBS’ “Unforgettable” a cop drama that centers around Montgomery’s character, Carrie Wells, and her inability to forget even the slightest of details. She’s headed to Australia, her home country, to promote the show and to gear up to executive produce “Sworn to Silence,” a Lifetime original film that could become serialized by the network.
The film will star Neve Campbell, who worked with Montgomery in 1996 for “Party of Five.
On Tuesday, Poppy Montgomery wrapped her first season of shooting CBS’ “Unforgettable” a cop drama that centers around Montgomery’s character, Carrie Wells, and her inability to forget even the slightest of details. She’s headed to Australia, her home country, to promote the show and to gear up to executive produce “Sworn to Silence,” a Lifetime original film that could become serialized by the network.
The film will star Neve Campbell, who worked with Montgomery in 1996 for “Party of Five.
- 4/12/2012
- by Alexandra Cheney
- Speakeasy/Wall Street Journal
Exclusive: Lifetime has greenlighted two-hour original movie/backdoor pilot Sworn to Silence, starring Neve Campbell. The project, based on the book by Linda Castillo, will be executive produced by Unforgettable star Poppy Montgomery and Barbara Lieberman (Lifetime’s upcoming The Pregnancy Project), with Campbell co-executive producing. Additionally, Party Of Five alumna Campbell has signed a development deal with Lifetime for scripted dramas and original movies. Sworn to Silence is set in the Amish farming community of Painter’s Mill, Ohio, which was shaken up by a series of brutal murders 15 years ago. Kate Burkholder (Campbell), who as a young girl survived the terror and left the Amish life behind, now returns to Painter’s Mill as its Chief of Police. But Kate’s renewed life in her hometown is shattered when a murder investigation triggers deep-seated emotions from her childhood and exposes dark secret that could destroy her. The movie...
- 12/7/2011
- by NELLIE ANDREEVA
- Deadline TV
Exclusive: On the heels of last year’s Pregnancy Pact, Lifetime has greenlighted another original movie based on a true story involving the issue of teen pregnancy. The Pregnancy Project stars Spy Kids alumna Alexa Vega and is based on the true story of 17-year-old Washington state high-school student Gaby Rodriguez who pretended to be pregnant in an effort to explore conventional stereotypes and the treatment of pregnant teens for a senior year school project. The Pregnancy Project was written by Teena Booth who also co-wrote The Pregnancy Pact and penned the network’s Natalee Holloway films and the upcoming Drew Peterson Story. Norman Buckley (Pretty Little Liars) will direct. Barbara Lieberman and Tom Patricia executive produce. Additionally, Buckley executive produces the ABC Family pilot Bunheads, written/executive produced by Amy Sherman-Palladino. He is repped by Paradigm, which also reps Booth, and Rain Management Group.
- 10/11/2011
- by NELLIE ANDREEVA
- Deadline TV
Following Pregnancy Pact, Lifetime greenlights true story on teen pregnancy. The movie is apparently based on a true story involving the issue of teen pregnancy, reports Deadline. Alexa Vega has boarded the project which tells of Gaby Rodriguez, a seventeen-year-old who attended a Washington state high-school and made her senior school project the treatment of pregnant teenagers by pretending to be pregnant. The Pregnancy Project follows 2010's The Pregnancy Pact and is scripted by Teena Booth, co-writer of Pact. Norman Buckley (Pretty Little Liars) is set to direct while Barbara Lieberman and Tom Patricia are executive producing.
- 10/11/2011
- Upcoming-Movies.com
Following Pregnancy Pact, Lifetime greenlights true story on teen pregnancy. The movie is apparently based on a true story involving the issue of teen pregnancy, reports Deadline. Alexa Vega has boarded the project which tells of Gaby Rodriguez, a seventeen-year-old who attended a Washington state high-school and made her senior school project the treatment of pregnant teenagers by pretending to be pregnant. The Pregnancy Project follows 2010's The Pregnancy Pact and is scripted by Teena Booth, co-writer of Pact. Norman Buckley (Pretty Little Liars) is set to direct while Barbara Lieberman and Tom Patricia are executive producing.
- 10/11/2011
- Upcoming-Movies.com
We have a sneak peek extended scene as well as pics from Lifetime Network's "The 19th Wife" which airs on September 13th. Rod Holcomb directs from the teleplay by Richard Friedenberg based on the New York Times bestseller of the same name written by David Ebershoff. Starring are Chyler Leigh, Matt Czuchry, Patricia Wettig and Jeff Hephner. Executive produced by Barbara Lieberman. “The 19th Wife” takes us inside the secret world of polygamy. Set in present day Mesadale, Utah, Becky Lynn, the “19th Wife” of Sawyer Scott, is accused of coldly murdering her husband. As the chilling murder mystery unfolds, the story flashes back to 1875, as Ann Eliza, the wife of Brigham Young, is expelled...
- 9/10/2010
- Upcoming-Movies.com
Lifetime Movie Network is taking a contemporary look at the seven deadly sins.
The cable network is moving with production on "Seven Deadly Sins," a four-hour miniseries based on Robin Wasserman's "Seven Deadly Sins" series of novels: "Lust," "Greed," "Envy," "Wrath," "Gluttony," "Sloth" and "Pride."
"Without a Trace" alum Eric Close is set to star in the mini, written by Gary Tieche and to be directed by Jeff Renfroe.
Dreama Walker ("Gossip Girl"), Rachel Melvin ("Days of Our Lives"), Jared Keeso ("The Guard"), Emma Lahana ("The Guard"), Greyston Holt ("Durham County") and Steven Grayhm ("Taken") co-star in the project. It is slated to begin production late this month for a 2010 premiere.
In "Sins," Harper (Walker) is a manipulative queen bee at her high school whose popularity is usurped when a transfer student (Melvin) comes to town, seduces Harper's boyfriend (Keeso) and shamelessly pursues handsome French teacher Mr. Powell (Close).
Meanwhile,...
The cable network is moving with production on "Seven Deadly Sins," a four-hour miniseries based on Robin Wasserman's "Seven Deadly Sins" series of novels: "Lust," "Greed," "Envy," "Wrath," "Gluttony," "Sloth" and "Pride."
"Without a Trace" alum Eric Close is set to star in the mini, written by Gary Tieche and to be directed by Jeff Renfroe.
Dreama Walker ("Gossip Girl"), Rachel Melvin ("Days of Our Lives"), Jared Keeso ("The Guard"), Emma Lahana ("The Guard"), Greyston Holt ("Durham County") and Steven Grayhm ("Taken") co-star in the project. It is slated to begin production late this month for a 2010 premiere.
In "Sins," Harper (Walker) is a manipulative queen bee at her high school whose popularity is usurped when a transfer student (Melvin) comes to town, seduces Harper's boyfriend (Keeso) and shamelessly pursues handsome French teacher Mr. Powell (Close).
Meanwhile,...
- 8/11/2009
- by By Nellie Andreeva
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Lifetime Movie Network is making a "Cinderella Pact," greenlighting an original movie toplined by "Without a Trace" star Poppy Montgomery.
Based on Sarah Strohmeyer's novel "The Cinderella Pact," "Cinderella" centers on Nola Devlin, a frumpy, overworked and underappreciated magazine editor whose alter ego, Belinda Apple, is the magazine's "reclusive" but sexy advice columnist.
Things get complicated when one of Belinda's columns on weight loss inspires Nola's overworked and overweight friends to band together and create a "Cinderella pact," vowing to lose pounds by following the advice of their "fairy godmother," Belinda.
When her secret identity is threatened, Nola is forced to join the pact, but as the weight comes off, Nola's problems mount.
Barbara Lieberman ("Murder in the Hamptons") executive produces the movie, slated to premiere in February. Nancey Silvers and Janet Brownell adapted the book for the small screen.
Montgomery, who played Samantha Spade on the recently canceled CBS...
Based on Sarah Strohmeyer's novel "The Cinderella Pact," "Cinderella" centers on Nola Devlin, a frumpy, overworked and underappreciated magazine editor whose alter ego, Belinda Apple, is the magazine's "reclusive" but sexy advice columnist.
Things get complicated when one of Belinda's columns on weight loss inspires Nola's overworked and overweight friends to band together and create a "Cinderella pact," vowing to lose pounds by following the advice of their "fairy godmother," Belinda.
When her secret identity is threatened, Nola is forced to join the pact, but as the weight comes off, Nola's problems mount.
Barbara Lieberman ("Murder in the Hamptons") executive produces the movie, slated to premiere in February. Nancey Silvers and Janet Brownell adapted the book for the small screen.
Montgomery, who played Samantha Spade on the recently canceled CBS...
- 6/10/2009
- by By Nellie Andreeva
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
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