After the success of Lifetime's original movie Lizzie Borden Took An Az earlier this year, Lifetime has ordered the six-episode limited series Lizzie Borden: The Fall River Chronicles, with Christina Ricci set to reprise her role as notorious murder suspect Lizzie Borden. The announcement was made today by Rob Sharenow, Executive Vice President and General Manger, Lifetime.
Lizzie Borden: The Fall River Chronicles delivers an intense and fictionalized account of actual events and people surrounding Lizzie's life after her controversial acquittal of the horrific double murder of her father and stepmother in 1892, when the exonerated figure lives a life awash in newfound celebrity. But when numerous people close to Lizzie - ranging from her half-brother to Broadway luminaries and the head of the criminal underworld - start to mysteriously die under brutal and strange circumstances, legendary Pinkerton detective Charlie Siringo (Cole Hauser, Good Will Hunting) becomes determined to prove her involvement in their ultimate demise.
John Heard (The Sopranos) will play William Almy, the business partner of Lizzie's murdered father Andrew, while Lizzie's half-brother William will be played by Andrew Howard (Hatfields & McCoys). Clea DuVall (Argo) will also reprise her role from the movie as Lizzie's sister, Emma.
"For more than a century, the world has been captivated by the legend of Lizzie Borden. But no one has captured her enigmatic menace as well as Christina Ricci," said Sharenow. "This series will take viewers further down Lizzie Borden's dark path, revealing what many people suspected about her mysterious life."
Lizzie Borden: The Fall River Chronicles will be produced by Sony Pictures Television. The limited series will be written by Greg Small, Rich Blaney, Barbara Nance, Jason Grote and David Simkins. Judith Verno and Ricci will serve as executive producers. Stephen Kay will direct the first two episodes.
