MGM+ has greenlit the true crime docuseries, tentatively called “The Wonderland Murders and the Secret History of Hollywood,” adapted from Michael Connelly’s Audible podcast of the same name.
The four-episode series explores the notorious Wonderland murder case, which took place in Los Angeles in the 1980s. Alison Ellwood, who helmed the docuseries “San Francisco Sounds” and “Laurel Canyon,” will serve as director.
Per the series’ description, “On July 1, 1981,four people were discovered severely beaten to death in a suburban homein Laurel Canyon on Wonderland Avenue.The murders’ aftermath spans two decades and reaches into present day with details, subplots and investigative twists that prove the old adage that truth is stranger than fiction.”
The description continues, “From a bought-off juror to the biggest porn actor of his generation, an alleged corrupt federal agent and a kind of Zelig of Hollywood’s dark underbelly, much about the case remains unresolved, and there are people who got away with murder.”
The series features archival footage as well as testimony from Scott Thorson, known as the “missing witness.” Author Connelly is known for his detective and crime fiction novels, especially those featuring LAPD detective Hieronymus “Harry” Bosch and criminal defense attorney Mickey Haller.
“I love Alison’s work and look forward to working with her and MGM+,” said Connelly. “The Wonderland murders left an indelible impact on Hollywood, and exploring it with the original detectives and witnesses is exciting, and is going to help us answer many of the questions that are still out there.”
“’The Wonderland Murders’has all the qualities of a page-turning thriller that fans expect from Michael Connelly’s novels, except that it’s also a true story,” said Rachel Ghiazza, chief content officer at Audible. “We could not be more excited to see this unforgettable and incredibly well-told storycome to life in a new format with the support of our Amazon colleagues at MGM+.”
“The Wonderland Murders” isproduced by Sony Pictures Television’s the Intellectual Property Corporation (IPC) and Miziker Content. Executive producers include Michael Connelly, Alison Ellwood,Jen Casey and Nick Gilhool, Eli Holzman and Aaron Saidman on behalf of IPC,as well as Rick Jackson.
