Elizabeth Banks to star as Karen Read in Prime Video crime drama series

Elizabeth Banks is reportedly taking on a polarizing role.

Prime Video and Warner Bros Television are in talks to produce a crime drama series telling the story of Karen Read’s acquittal for the murder of her boyfriend, John O’Keefe, Deadline reported.

Banks will not only star in the series as Read, but will executive produce, sources told the outlet. Read’s case garnered intense attention from Americans, partly through the media and TikTok.

KAREN READ ‘DIDN’T DO THIS CRIME’, SAYS JURY FOREMAN AFTER ACQUITTING HER OF MURDER CHARGES: REPORT

Elizabeth Banks will reportedly take on the role of Karen Read in a true crime drama series. (Amy Sussman/Getty Images, Richard Beetham for Fox News Digital)

O’Keefe, a Boston police officer, was found dead outside a home in 2022. At the time, Read was accused of striking O’Keefe with her vehicle and leaving him to die after a night of drinking with friends.

Read faced charges of second-degree murder, manslaughter and leaving the scene of a deadly accident in connection with O’Keefe’s death. She pleaded not guilty and her first appearance in the courtroom ended with a mistrial.

In June, jurors found Read not guilty of second-degree murder, the top charge, but guilty of a lesser offense of operating a vehicle under the influence with a blood-alcohol level of .08% or greater.

Karen Read hugs lawyer Alan Jackson after a not guilty verdict of second-degree murder is read on June 18. (Greg Derr/The Patriot Ledger via AP, Pool)

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Banks isn’t the only star to take on an infamous true crime role.

Earlier this week, Netflix revealed that “Sons of Anarchy” star Charlie Hunnam will be taking on the role of infamous murderer Ed Gein in the third season of their anthology series, “Monster.” The streaming service shared a poster for the series, set to premiere in October, on social media.

Amanda Knox’s story was recently explored by Hulu in “The Twisted Tale of Amanda Knox.” Actress Grace Van Patten portrayed Knox as the show explored her wrongful conviction for the death of her roommate in Italy.

Joey King and Patricia Arquette teamed up to tell the story of Gypsy Rose Blanchard in 2019’s “The Act.” Arquette portrayed Clauddine Blanchard, Gypsy Rose’s mother, in the Hulu series. For years, Clauddine, who was believed to have suffered from Munchausen syndrome by proxy, allegedly forced her daughter to live as if she had severe illnesses. Eventually, Gypsy Rose convinced her boyfriend to kill her mother.

Clauddine Blanchard is believed to have suffered from Munchausen syndrome by proxy, also known as Factitious disorder imposed on another (FDIA), which is a form of child abuse.  (Lifetime/ A&E)

Dennis Quaid recently starred as the “Happy Face Killer” in a crime drama television series. Paramount+’s “Happy Face” told the story of Keith Hunter Jesperson, who was discovered to be a serial killer by his daughter.

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Dennis Quaid performs a scene in Paramount+’s “Happy Face.” (Ed Araquel/Paramount+)

Quaid told Fox News Digital his role in the serial killer series creeped out his wife. 

“It was a little iffy there for a couple of hours afterwards because, you know, that’d be creepy for me, too,” he admitted. 

“But she knows me,” Quaid added.

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