HBO is currently working on a new drama about death row inmates. The Oscar-winning documentarian Alex Gibney will write and direct the series, while HBO favorite Laura Dern is slated to star.
Although the show has no working title for now, some of the plot details have been revealed. Laura Dern will play a psychiatrist that is appointed by the court to talk to inmates on death row in an effort to determine if they are sane enough to actually face the death penalty. According to Deadline, the exchanges between Dern’s character and the inmates are “twisted yet humanizing.”
In addition to writing and directing the upcoming series, Alex Gibney will also serve as the show’s executive producer alongside Laura Dern. Jayne Lemons has also been brought on as co-executive producer and a criminal investigative reporter, Robert Kealing, has been tapped to consult.
Alex Gibney, who is no stranger to the topic of death row, expressed his excitement about the venture. “I am thrilled to be embarking on this dramatic journey with Laura and Jayme. It’s an opportunity to shine a light on a dark and brutal corner of our justice system with a series of illuminating conversations that explore the best and worst of what it means to be human.”