One of this year’s most anticipated true crime adaptations, The Murder of JonBenét Ramsey, is getting a first look today with the first image of Oscar-nominated actors Melissa McCarthy and Clive Owen as Patsy and John Bennett Ramsey.
Behind the Scenes & The Creative Team
The completed series hails from David Glasser’s 101 Studios. Initially set up as a Paramount+ release, Netflix snagged the rights to distribute the limited series, starring Melissa McCarthy and Clive Owen as JonBenét’s parents. Anne Sewitsky directs the series from a script co-written by Harrison Query and Tommy Wallach, with Richard LaGravenese serving as showrunner.
Facing the Media Circus
The Murder of JonBenét Ramsey recounts the headline-making, unsolved Boulder, Colorado murder case and the devastating personal fallout that followed the tragic killing of JonBenét Ramsey. In the presentation, the Ramsey family members, investigators, and media personalities tell the story behind the slaying of JonBenét.
Today’s image shows Patsy (McCarthy) and John (Owen) looking distraught while a camera crew stares daggers at their souls. I can already hear the interviewer investigating the couple about JonBenét’s murder, their voice inquisitive, snake-like, and hungry for a scoop.
From Paramount+ to Netflix: A High-Stakes Distribution Swap
Before landing at Netflix, The Murder of JonBenét Ramsey was reviewed by Paramount+’s new leadership. According to Deadline, there were early concerns about the series, and after a screening and much deliberation, Paramount passed on the project. While a concrete reason for Paramount relinquishing control of the project’s distribution remains officially undisclosed, industry insiders believe that, under its new leadership, Paramount did not want to face the fallout from any potential legal backlash related to the series. Deadline notes that Paramount’s hesitation stems from “the $750 million defamation lawsuit JonBenét Ramsey’s brother Burke filed against Paramount division CBS over the network’s 2016 docuseries that pegged him as her killer.” Both parties eventually settled the case out of court.
Sources close to the project say Netflix has done its due diligence to avoid legal trouble with the series, and would not have made the acquisition otherwise. With the deal officially closed, The Murder of JonBenét Ramsey will stream exclusively on Netflix starting December 10.
In addition to McCarthy and Owen, the limited series boasts an impressive ensemble cast featuring Garrett Hedlund, Alison Pill, Owen Teague, Clifton Collins Jr., Jaime Ray Newman, Chris Bauer, Will Patton, Margo Martindale, Shea Whigham, and Emily Mitchell as JonBenét.
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