Bethenny Frankel has joined the cast of the upcoming Lifetime original movie “Danger in the Dorm,” PvNew has learned exclusively.
The role will mark Frankel’s first-ever appearance in a Lifetime film. She will star alongside Clara Alexandrova in the movie, which is inspired by the story of the same name by true crime novelist Ann Rule. PvNew exclusively reported the film was in the works back in 2020.
“In my 20s I briefly attempted acting and was shocked to be asked to immerse myself in such a significant role,” Frankel said in a statement. “My greatest takeaway is to recognize the thankless hard work that the cast and crew input every day. It exceeded my wildest imagination and I watch tv and movies differently now. Cold outdoor scenes and 13-hour days are the norm. It was an incredible experience that I’m grateful to have been afforded. This embarks another possible new chapter in my 50s. As if being an accidental influencer wasn’t enough…. I’m not worthy!”
The official description for “Danger in the Dorm” states that it “tells the story of Kathleen (Alexandrova) after the tragic murder of her childhood best friend and fellow classmate, Becky. Now, she must shed her rebellious youthful spirit in order to catch a killer who’s preying on young girls around campus, even as her mother, Joanne (Frankel), tries to protect Kathleen from suffering the same fate as her friend.”
The film is currently in production and is slated to debut on Lifetime this summer as part of its “Ripped From the Headlines” movie slate. Benjamin Anderson wrote the script. Robin Hays is directing with Howard Braunstein, Conor Allyn, Benjamin Anderson and Ilene Kahn Powers executive producing.
“It’s an absolute thrill to collaborate with Bethenny,” Hays said. “Her dedication and talent breathe life into every scene. Watching her bring depth and authenticity to the character is a reminder of why I fell in love with storytelling in the first place. I can’t wait for people to see this film!”
While she had several acting roles early in her career, Frankel is best known for her reality TV tenure, having been a key cast member of the hit Bravo series “The Real Housewives of New York City.” She first joined the show in 2008 when it premiered before exiting in the third season. She then rejoined in Season 7 and left ahead of Season 12. She has also starred in the spinoff series “Bethenny Ever After” and hosted shows like the Max competition series “The Big Shot With Bethenny.” She is the founder of the lifestyle brand SkinnyGirl, published multiple books, and is an active podcaster and YouTuber.
In the summer of 2023, during the SAG-AFTRA strike, Frankel began calling for protections for the stars of reality TV shows, something she began referring to as a “reality reckoning.” In an interview with PvNew‘s Marc Malkin, Frankel said: “We signed a contract. Does it mean we should be exploited? It means when you get a ratings bump or something happens, you should share. Networks and streamers have been exploiting people for too long.”
Frankel has continued to amplify her ideas —pitting her against Bravo —on her iHeart podcasts “Just B,” “Rants” and “Rewives.” She’s scored interviews with ex-Bravo stars such as NeNe Leakes of “The Real Housewives of Atlanta,” Denise Richards of “Beverly Hills” and Rachel Leviss of “Vanderpump Rules” (which served as Leviss’ announcement that she was leaving the show).
Frankel is repped by Vault Entertainment and Jill Fritzo Public Relations.
In addition to “Danger in the Dorm,” other Lifetime movies based on Ann Rule novels include “Too Late to Say Goodbye,” “Hunt for the I-5 Killer,” and “Everything She Ever Wanted.”
