WeCrashed(Apple TV,March 18) tackles the 2019 downfall of WeWork co-founder Adam Neumann (Jared Leto),andThe Girl From Plainville,(Stan,March 29) is inspired by the true story of Michelle Carter (Elle Fanning) and her infamous “texting suicide” case that captured the world’s attention in 2017.
Later this year we will also seeUnderbelly:Vanishing Actair on Channel Nine (owner of this masthead),a drama based on the alleged crimes of Sydney businesswoman Melissa Caddick,who went missing in late 2020.
Given our insatiable appetite for true crime,the rush to fictionalise contemporary stories might simply be a case of streaming platforms wanting to edge out the competition.
“The truth is often so much stranger than fiction and Australian streaming audiences love true-crime drama,” says Stan’s chief content officer,Cailah Scobie.
“We’ve found that combining major talent with these unbelievable stories has proven a winning formula,and we anticipate many more true crime dramas to arrive on Stan as we look to the genre across our Originals commissioning slate.”
However,Carolyn Mackay,co-director at Sydney Institute of Criminology,believes this first-in best-dressed approach could backfire. “Viewers struggle to differentiate between the real person and the famous actor they’re watching,so it can blur the lines,” explains Dr Mackay.
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“Often the crimes are glamorised for the sake of drama,so we might end up seeing these people as hero figures despite their committing reprehensible crimes.”
Many of the real-life characters from these stories have already achieved cult status. Despite being found guilty of defrauding investors,Theranos founder Elizabeth Holmes inspired a fan club (the “Holmies”) who dress in her signature black turtleneck,or rock T-shirts emblazoned withElizabeth Holmes is my #GirlBoss.Tiger King’s Joe Exotic and Carole Baskin have become household names,not to mention the Halloween outfit of choice for bored celebrities.
Meanwhile,Jared Leto looks more like a rock star than a disgraced CEO in the press snaps forWeCrashed.
Similarly,Inventing Annahas been accused of portraying Sorokin as a sympathetic figure,a kind of real-life Robin Hood who stole from the rich and gave to herself. Rachel Williams,who Sorokin allegedly fleeced for $86,000 in credit card charges,penned a first-person piece forTIME magazine this week titled,Anna ‘Delvey’ Sorokin Almost Ruined My Life. Now She’s Being Rewarded for Her Crimes.
“Millions will watch as Anna is portrayed as a complex anti-heroine fighting against her personal demons and a world that constantly underestimates young women,” writes Williams.
“It will be seen by more people than will ever meet Anna or do the work to understand her real nature or what really happened. And that is a dangerous reality.”
Sadly,for the real-life victims,it’s a reality that we will have to get used to as demand fuels supply,meaning every high-profile downfall or shocking true crime is one pitch away from becoming your next favourite series.
Find out the next TV,streaming series and movies to add to your must-sees.Get The Watchlist delivered every Thursday.