New Docuseries on University of Idaho Murders Coming to Prime Video from Skydance and Story Syndicate
A new docuseries on Prime Video will delve into the tragic events surrounding the November 2022 murders of four University of Idaho students and the subsequent investigation, arrest, and trial of suspect Bryan Kohberger. The project, a collaboration between Skydance Television and Story Syndicate, will be co-directed by Liz Garbus, known for her work on “I’ll Be Gone in the Dark” and “Yellowjackets,” and Matthew Galkin, who has worked on projects like “Murder in the Bayou” and “Kevorkian.”
The docuseries will be closely intertwined with the research conducted by bestselling author James Patterson and award-winning investigative journalist Vicky Ward for an upcoming nonfiction book based on the murders. Additionally, a scripted series based on the same events is in development at Amazon MGM Studios, with Liz Garbus set to direct the first episode.
Family members of victim Ethan Chapin and Maddie Mogen are providing full and exclusive support for the docuseries, with Maddie’s mother and stepfather participating in documentary interviews for the first time. Directors Liz Garbus and Matthew Galkin expressed their gratitude for the families’ collaboration, emphasizing the opportunity to portray intimate and authentic portraits of the victims’ lives at the University of Idaho.
Skydance Television executives David Ellison, Dana Goldberg, and Matt Thunell will serve as executive producers for the project, along with James Patterson, Bill Robinson, and Patrick Santa from James Patterson Entertainment. Story Syndicate’s executive producers include Liz Garbus, Dan Cogan, Jon Bardin, and Kate Barry, with Matthew Galkin executive producing for Fairhaven.
Matt Thunell, the president of Skydance Television, highlighted the significance of shedding new light on the horrific murders that took place in Moscow, Idaho, emphasizing the importance of honoring the memories of the four innocent lives lost.
The docuseries and the scripted series are part of Skydance’s exclusive first look deal with James Patterson, focusing on developing premium series based on his popular book series, which includes titles like “Women’s Murder Club,” “Michael Bennett,” and “Private.” Additionally, Paramount Television Studios and Skydance Television are collaborating on the upcoming series “Cross,” based on Patterson’s best-selling “Alex Cross” novels.
This project marks Skydance Television’s sixth collaboration with Prime Video, adding to a lineup that includes series like “Reacher,” “Tom Clancy’s Jack Ryan,” and the upcoming “Cross.” Story Syndicate’s involvement with Prime Video extends to their previous projects “All In: The Fight for Democracy” and “Mayor Pete.”
The docuseries promises to offer a comprehensive exploration of the tragic events that unfolded at the University of Idaho, providing a platform to honor the memories of the victims and shed new light on the investigation and subsequent trial.