Elizabeth Banks will play Karen Reed in a limited series about the controversial trials in development on Prime Video and Warner Bros. TV, Variety confirmed.
The series is based on the podcast “Karen,” which chronicles the true crime story of a woman accused of killing her boyfriend, a Boston police officer found dead in the snow. Although reading was a murder trial and many other crimes, her defense argued that she was framed – the victim of law enforcement-involved cover-up. The reading material was eventually acquitted for murder, manslaughter and leaving the scene. She was convicted of drunk driving and was sentenced to one year on probation.
Justin Noble, co-creator of “The Sex Life of a Female College Student,” will be producing alongside David E. Kelly as the showrunner of the series.
Banks also serves as executive producers of the project through Brownstone Banner, along with producer partners Max Handelman and Chrissy Wall. Matt Kelley is an EP via David E. Kelley Productions along with Matt Tinker. Jen Sargent, Marshall Ruby, Aaron Hart and Jenni Mullane will also enforce Will Rachel Stockman and Dan Abrams through law and crime.
Banks is the actor, director and producer best known for her role in The Hunger Games franchise and Pitch Perfect. She also directed and produced the 2023 hit horror comedy, “Cocaine Bear.” Banks and Brownstone are represented by UTA, Untitled Entertainment and Johnson Shapiros Lewitt & Cole.
Amazon Prime Video did not immediately respond to Variety’s request for comment. The deadline broke the news.
