Sarah Paulson is tackling another famous crime story. “The People v. O.J. Simpson: American Crime Story” star will topline “Lost Girls,” an Amazon Studios thriller inspired by the so-called Craigslist Ripper, Deadline reports. Two-time Oscar nominee Liz Garbus (“What Happened, Miss Simone?”) will direct.
“The pic will center on Mari (Paulson), the mother of Shannan, one of her biological daughters who goes missing along with several other [sex workers] who turn up dead,” Deadline writes. “The murderer used the waterfront roadside on Long Island’s South Shore as the dumping ground for his victims, all of whom were escorts advertising on Craigslist and similar websites.” The real-life killer is suspected to have taken the lives of 10 to 16 people over a period of about 20 years.
“Lost Girls” is an adaptation of Robert Kolker’s 2013 book “Lost Girls: An Unsolved American Mystery.” Michael Werwie (“A Rose Reborn”) is penning the script for the film, which marks Garbus’ non-documentary feature debut. The Emmy winner’s doc credits include “Nothing Left Unsaid: Gloria Vanderbilt & Anderson Cooper,” “Love, Marilyn,” and “Different Moms.”
Paulson recently snagged yet another trophy for her depiction of Deputy District Attorney Marcia Clark in “The People v. O.J. Simpson.” She took home a SAG Award for Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a TV Movie or Limited Series last week. During her acceptance speech, she asked the audience and viewers at home to donate any money they could spare to the ACLU. Backstage she added, “I wanted to have an opportunity to mention the inclusivity that I think is required right now, in general … I don’t think silence is golden at this particular time,” She added, “I think if you have a platform to say something in front of a large audience, you should take the opportunity.”
Up next for Paulson is “Feud,” Ryan Murphy’s take on the rivalry between Bette Davis (Susan Sarandon) and Joan Crawford (Jessica Lange) on the set of “Whatever Happened to Baby Jane?” She’s also part of the stellar cast of “Ocean’s Eight,” the all-female “Ocean’s Eleven” reboot due in 2018. Paulson premiered her newest film, “Rebel in the Rye,” at Sundance last month. The biopic centers on “The Catcher in the Rye” author J.D. Salinger.
“Lost Girls” is expected to kick off production in New York this spring. Langley Park’s Kevin McCormick is producing.
