NBC Orders True Crime Limited Drama ‘The Thing About Pam’ Starring Renee Zellweger
US network NBC has handed a straight-to-series order to limited series ‘The Thing About Pam‘, a true-crime drama based around a hard-to-believe, real-life story involving the diabolical scheming of Pam Hupp.
The six-episode series is based on the 2011 murder of Betsy Faria that resulted in her husband Russ’s conviction, but he insisted he did not kill her. His conviction was later overturned. This brutal crime set off a chain of events that would expose a diabolical scheme deeply involving Pam Hupp, played by Renee Zellweger in her first broadcast tv role.
A thorough examination of the scheme was featured on several episodes of the long-running US reality legal show ‘Dateline NBC’, becoming one of the most popular topics to ever air on the series. It also became the subject of a popular 2019 podcast, ‘The Thing About Pam’, which still remains one of the most downloaded podcasts on iTunes.
The drama is a collaboration between Blumhouse Television (The Jinx’, ‘Sharp Objects’), NBC News Studios and Zellweger’s Big Picture Co., and marks the first major scripted project under the purview of Susan Rovner, Chairman, Entertainment Content, as well as the first project between Blumhouse Television and NBC News Studios, whose partnership was announced last year.
“When you think about what qualifies something as a ‘must-watch,’ I’m not sure you could do any better than the undeniable trifecta of Renee Zellweger, Blumhouse and ‘Dateline,'” said Rovner. “The twists and turns of this saga are truly stranger than fiction, and in the hands of this incredibly talented artistic team, this series will bring a completely new perspective to a story that has already captivated millions.”
Jessika Borsiczky (‘House of Lies’, ‘UnREAL’) will write the series, exec produce and serve as showrunner. She most recently executive produced, wrote and directed for the upcoming Netflix series ‘Sex/Life’, which completed production on its first season late last year, and is also consulting producer on the upcoming Netflix series “On the Verge.” Additionally, she executive produced and directed season four of Hulu’s critically acclaimed ‘UnREAL’. She has also directed an episode of ‘What/If’, where she met and worked with Zellweger.
“As someone who hasn’t missed an episode of ‘Dateline’ in 10 years, what immediately stood out to me about Pam from other true crime stories is that while on its surface it has all the twists and turns of a thrilling whodunit murder mystery, it’s really a character story at its heart that reflects in a profound way the American landscape back to us,” commented Borsiczky.
Zellweger will also exec produce alongside Carmella Casinelli, Liz Cole, Noah Oppenheim, Jason Blum, Chris McCumber and Jeremy Gold. Blumhouse Television, NBC News Studios and Big Picture Co. will produce the drama.
No news yet on when ‘The Thing About Pam‘ will premiere on NBC in the USA, or where it’ll land in the UK (although, given it’s NBC, Sky would seem like a likely home). We’ll let you know when we hear more.
