Liz Garbus is taking on the Golden State Killer for her next project. Per a press release, the documentarian is helming an HBO docuseries based on Michelle McNamara’s best-selling book “I’ll Be Gone in the Dark: One Woman’s Obsessive Search for the Golden State Killer.” The true-crime story delves into the case a serial rapist and murderer who terrorized California in the late ’70s and ’80s. McNamara coined the criminal’s title, “Golden State Killer.”
Production on the “I’ll Be Gone in the Dark” docuseries is already underway. No word on a premiere date yet.
Only recently has the Golden State Killer been identified and arrested: on April 24 police placed ex-cop Joseph James DeAngelo under arrest at his suburban Sacramento home. DNA evidence connects him with many of the Golden State Killer’s crimes.
McNamara started “I’ll Be Gone in the Dark” before her 2016 death. Her lead researcher Paul Haynes, and her colleague Billy Jenkins finished it, and the book hit shelves this February.
“‘I’ll Be Gone in the Dark’ is a comprehensive exploration of the case of an elusive, violent predator,” the press release summarizes. “It is also a haunting personal memoir and self-examination of McNamara’s obsessive quest for justice on behalf of the victims and survivors of the crimes.”
“Love, Marilyn,” “What Happened, Miss Simone?” and “The Farm: Angola, USA” are among Garbus’ credits. She received Oscar nods for “Miss Simone” and “The Farm,” and won Emmys for the former and “Ghosts of Abu Ghraib.”
When we asked Garbus about her thoughts on Time’s Up in April, she spoke about the many forms misogyny can take. “It’s not about sex, it’s about power,” she said, “And abuse of power against women takes many forms — from the most violent, rape, to the mundane, mansplaining. It’s affecting us on all levels.” She was likely prepping for “I’ll Be Gone in the Dark” at the time.
The director’s latest project, the docuseries “The Fourth Estate,” delves into the inner workings of The New York Times during Trump’s first year in office. The first part of the four-episode Showtime series screened at Tribeca Film Festival this past weekend and is currently playing at Toronto’s Hot Docs fest. “The Fourth Estate” premieres May 27.
