PARAMOUNT+ ORDERS NEW ORIGINAL LIMITED SERIES
JONBENÉT RAMSEY (W/T), STARRING ACADEMY AWARD® NOMINEES MELISSA MCCARTHY AND CLIVE OWEN
As the 30th Anniversary of One of the Most Notorious Unsolved Murders in American History Approaches, the Limited Series Explores the Cold Case that Captivated the Nation – Produced by MTV Entertainment Studios and 101 Studios
Oscar Nominee Richard LaGravenese to Serve as Showrunner;
Anne Sewitsky to Direct Four Episodes
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| [Melissa McCarthy, Photo Credit: Agency Credit; Clive Owen, Photo Credit: Gerhard Kassner] |
September 5, 2024 – Paramount+ today announced that Academy Award nominees Melissa McCarthy (Can You Ever Forgive Me?) and Clive Owen (Closer) are set to star in the upcoming limited series JONBENÉT RAMSEY (working title) as JonBenét’s parents Patsy and John Bennett Ramsey. Produced by MTV Entertainment Studios and 101 Studios, production will begin in Calgary, Canada, with Academy Award nominee Richard LaGravenese (Behind the Candelabra) serving as showrunner and executive producer. Four of the eight episodes, including the first episode, will be directed by Anne Sewitsky (Presumed Innocent), who will also serve as executive producer.
JONBENÉT RAMSEY (w/t) explores the tragic unsolved murder of six-year-old beauty queen JonBenét Ramsey. It follows the Ramsey family, before and after the tragedy as they go through the painful loss of a child while facing intense public scrutiny caused by a media frenzy that caused this case to captivate an entire nation. At the heart of the series, it is the story of Patsy and John Ramsey – exploring the unbreakable partnership of these two complex people – as husband and wife, as mother and father – who had committed themselves and their children to building the narrative of a perfect, privileged life only to have it destroyed one Christmas night in 1996.
"Melissa McCarthy and Clive Owen are an extraordinary duo to delve into this tragic story that has cast a long, haunting shadow over American culture for nearly three decades," said Chris McCarthy, Paramount Global Co-CEO and President/CEO, Showtime & MTV Entertainment Studios.
“JonBenét Ramsey continues to be one of the country's most fascinating unsolved murders,” said Jeff Grossman, Executive Vice President, Programming, Paramount+. “The incredible talent of Melissa McCarthy, Clive Owen and the creative team led by Richard LaGravenese will illuminate her story with the acuity and nuance it deserves.”
"We have been working to bring this thought provoking and bold project to audiences for some time now and could not be happier with the top notch team working in front of and behind the camera,” said David Glasser, CEO of 101 Studios.
Melissa McCarthy is an award-winning actress and producer with Academy Award and BAFTA nominations for her role in
Bridesmaids, a second Academy Award nomination for
Can You Ever Forgive Me?, as well as Golden Globe, Critics' Choice, and SAG Award nominations. She was honored with the People Choice Award’s Inaugural People's Icon Award and the prestigious Comedic Genius Award from MTV. McCarthy’s film credits include
The Little Mermaid,
Unfrosted,
Genie,
Thunder Force,
Bridesmaids,
Spy,
Identity Thief,
Ghostbusters: Answer the Call,
Tammy,
This is 40, and
The Hangover Part III; and television credits include
God’s Favorite Idiot,
Nine Perfect Strangers,
Gilmore Girls,
Samantha Who?, and
Mike & Molly. She and husband, Ben Falcone, have successfully produced numerous film and television projects including
Tammy,
The Boss,
Life of the Party,
Thunder Force and
God’s Favorite Idiot, as well as the critically acclaimed documentary
Bob Ross: Happy Accidents, Betrayal & Greed.
Academy Award nominee and Golden Globe winner Clive Owen is celebrated by audiences in the U.K., the United States and around the world. In 2005, he won a Golden Globe and picked up an Academy Award nomination for his role in Mike Nichols’ Closer. His film credits include Croupier, Gosford Park, Sin City, Children of Men, Inside Man, Shoot’Em Up, The International, Duplicity and The Boys Are Back. He made his American TV debut in the film Hemingway and Gellhorn, which earned him Emmy, SAG and Golden Globe nominations. He executive produced and starred in The Knick, which earned him a Golden Globe Best Actor nomination. His television credits include Monsieur Spade, A Murder at the End of the World, Chancer, Second Sight, The Echo, The Hire, The Night Of, Lisey’s Story, and Impeachment: American Crime Story.
JONBENÉT RAMSEY (w/t) will be executive produced by David C. Glasser, Ron Burkle, Bob Yari, David Hutkin, Melissa McCarthy, and Anne Sewitsky. Writers Richard LaGravense, Harrison Query & Tommy Wallach will also serve as executive producers. Query & Wallach sold the project to MTV Entertainment Studios and 101 Studios.
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About Paramount+
Paramount+, part of Paramount’s (Nasdaq: PARA, PARAA) global portfolio of multimedia entertainment and news brands, is a direct-to-consumer digital subscription video on-demand and live streaming service, combining live sports, breaking news and A Mountain of Entertainment™. The streaming service features an expansive library of original series, hit shows and popular movies across every genre from world-renowned brands and production studios, including BET, CBS, Comedy Central, MTV, Nickelodeon, Paramount Pictures and the Smithsonian Channel. Paramount+ with SHOWTIME®, the service's cornerstone plan, is also home to SHOWTIME® content, including scripted hits and critically acclaimed nonfiction projects and films. This premium plan includes unmatched events and sports programming through the local live CBS stream, including golf, basketball and more. All Paramount+ subscribers have streaming access to CBS News Network for 24/7 news and CBS Sports HQ for sports news and analysis.
For more information about Paramount+, please visit
www.paramountplus.com, and follow @ParamountPlus on social media.
About Paramount Media Networks & MTV Entertainment Studios
SHOWTIME/MTV Entertainment Studios & Paramount Media Networks is a global network of media assets that reaches over one billion people in more than 180 countries featuring some of the most iconic brands in entertainment including SHOWTIME, MTV, Comedy Central and Paramount Network among others – and, its Studios arm which produces 120+ series annually, including some of today’s biggest hits such as Yellowstone, Yellowjackets, Emily in Paris, 1883, 1923, George & Tammy, South Park, Tulsa King, RuPaul’s Drag Race, The Challenge and Jersey Shore, to name a few.
About 101 Studios
101 Studios is a global entertainment company dedicated to the acquisition, financing, development, production and distribution of high-caliber, creator-driven content. With an unmatched television slate partnered with outstanding filmmakers and talent, 101 Studios productions include the award-winning series “Yellowstone,” “George & Tammy,” 1883 and 1923. We also produce some of the most critically acclaimed shows, such as LAWMEN: BASS REEVES, MAYOR OF KINGSTOWN, TULSA KING and LIONESS. Upcoming projects include LANDMAN, starring Billy Bob Thornton.
Building upon this success, 101 Studios’ Unscripted Division works with talented storytellers in bringing their vision to life. Some of these projects include Amazon Prime documentary “Kickback” which is an expose on the corruption inside the largest sport’s organization in the world: FIFA; “The Last Cowboy” a documentary on the high stakes world of professional horse reining and the upcoming HBO docuseries about the sexual abuse and cover-up at Ohio State University, co-produced by George Clooney and Grant Heslov's Smokehouse Pictures. On the scripted film side, past releases include the Sundance Audience award winner "Burden," as well as the family comedy “The War With Grandpa”, the historical drama "The Current War: Director's Cut," and FINESTKIND. 101 Studios advocates for first-class collaboration and innovation. As an example we are partnered with iHeartRadio and Sports Illustrated Studios on the Ambie nominated podcast “Choosing Sides: F1”. 101 Studios also produces high-profile sports content under its own label, 101 Sports. Additionally, 101 Studios' Brand Division increases the exposure for the properties of our partners to millions across the world.
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Originally published: September 06, 2024.
