According to Deadline, 20th Century Studios will be producing a brand new true-crime drama film titled Boston Strangler, centered around the real-life serial killer during the early 1960s. Oscar-nominated actress Keira Knightley has signed on to lead the project, which is expected to begin its production in December. She will be portraying the role of reporter Loretta McLaughlin.
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The Boston Strangler movie will be written and directed by Matt Ruskin, who conducted in-depth research on McLaughlin and Jean Cole by tracking down their families and studying their actual investigation of the murders. It will be produced by Ridley Scott and Kevin Walsh for Scott Free, and LuckyChap Entertainment’s Tom Ackerley and Josey McNamara. The project will be overseen by Scott Free’s Sam Roston, LuckyChap’s Bronte Payne, and 20th Century Studios’ Sarah Shepard.
“Based on the infamous Boston Strangler murders, this is the true story of Loretta McLaughlin, the first reporter to connect the murders and break the story of the Strangler,” reads the synopsis. “She and fellow reporter Jean Cole challenged the sexism of the early 1960s to report on the city’s most notorious serial killer and worked tirelessly to keep women informed. Loretta pursued the story at great personal risk and uncovered corruption that cast doubt on the true identity of the Boston Strangler.”
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Knightley is known for her roles in big franchise films such as George Lucas’ Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace and Disney’s Pirates of the Caribbean opposite Johnny Depp and Orlando Bloom. Her film credits also include drama films such as Atonement, Begin Again, The Imitation Game, and Pride & Prejudice. The latter two earned her Academy Award nominations for Best Supporting Actress and Best Actress, respectively. She will next be seen in the holiday comedy film Silent Night.
