HBO Max commissioned a documentary about the late actor Brittany Murphy. The two-part series comes from Blumhouse Television and Pyramid Productions.
The documentary will explore the life and death of Murphy, best known for the film “Clueless” and whose other credits include “8 Mile”, “Just Married” and Fox’s animated comedy series “King of the Hill”. She died in 2009, at the age of 32. Although her death was considered an accident and determined as a result of a combination of pneumonia and the effects of several over-the-counter drugs she had taken, her death a year later her husband fueled speculation about her passing.
“Our Brittany Murphy documentary cuts through the tabloid noise with a high and nuanced representation of a sensational story,” said Jennifer O’Connell, executive vice president of family programming for nonfiction and live-action at HBO Max. reasoned account of Brittany Murphy’s struggles and sudden death comes with great responsibility and we team up with a masterful creative team to produce a careful examination of a tragedy that has long been a cause for speculation. ”
Cynthia Hill (“Private Violence”), directs the documentary. Executive producers include Jason Blum, Chris McCumber, Jeremy Gold, Mary Lisio for Blumhouse and James Buddy Day (“The disappearance of Susan Cox Powell”).
“Brittany Murphy was a rising star whose filmography includes films that defined a generation,” said Mary Lisio, executive vice president of alternative, unscripted programming at Blumhouse Television. “We think that her story justifies further exploration and an examination of the environment that has allowed her to become a victim of success. We are excited about the partnership with HBO Max and the collaboration of a director like Cynthia Hill, who takes a different approach to complex stories about women and contemporary issues. “
“I agreed to make this film because I think it’s a shame that Brittany’s promising life and career has been eclipsed by the circumstances of her death,” said Hill. “I think it is important to celebrate Brittany’s talent as we struggle to explain the tragic circumstances of her and Simon’s death.”