The much-talked-about limited series, titled The Murder of JonBenét Ramsey, is finally moving forward after getting picked up by Netflix for a global release this winter, with the presentation likely timed to the 30th anniversary of the six-year-old beauty queen’s killing on Dec. 25, 1996.
Who are the creative forces behind the new series?
The completed series (formally known as Unspeakable: The Murder of JonBenét Ramsey) hails from David Glasser’s 101 Studios. Initially a Paramount+ release, Netflix snagged the rights to distribute the limited series, starring Melissa McCarthy and Clive Owen as JonBenét’s parents, Patsy and John Bennett Ramsey, respectively. Anne Sewitsky directs the series from a script co-written by Harrison Query and Tommy Wallach. Richard LaGravenese is the showrunner.
Who participates in the new series?
The Murder of JonBenét Ramsey recounts the headline-making unsolved Boulder, Colorado, murder case and the 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.
The special’s journey to Netflix is complicated
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 is unknown, some believe that, under its new leadership, Paramount did not want to deal with the fallout from any legal backlash related to the series. Deadline goes on to say that Paramount’s concerns “It 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.
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 done, The Murder of JonBenét Ramsey will stream exclusively on Netflix this winter.
I know next to nothing about this case other than remembering a time when tabloid rags plastered JonBenét Ramsey’s innocent face on seemingly every cover. The thought of anyone killing a child is unfathomable to me. Hopefully, this series sheds new light on the case and provides some perspective for interested parties.
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