TV’s search for real events to make into movies shows no signs of slowing down.
A political thriller based on the Chandra Levy murder case is finished filming this week in Washington, DC — just in time for a May debut.
Several weeks after reports began to swirl, the cable channel TLC, more famous for shows like “Jon & Kate Plus 8” and “Cake Boss,” finally announced over the weekend that a movie based on Levy’s 2001 murder was in the works.
The movie — being shot under the working title “The Chandra Levy Project” — is based on the headline-grabbing story of the young Washington intern whose disappearance inadvertently revealed a sex scandal.
While investigating, cops discovered that Levy was having an affair with married congressman Gary Condit, who she’d been working for.
The ensuing media storm cost Condit his seat and likely delayed the solving of Levy’s murder for several years.
TLC is planning to air it on the 10th anniversary of her death.
The movie comes at a moment when Hollywood seems to have given up making original stories and has turned fulltime to looking for true stories.
This year’s two Oscar favorites — “The King’s Speech” and “Social Network” — are based on real events with actors playing the roles of real people.
Last month’s TV movie “Craigslist Killer” drew more than 5 million viewers — the biggest audience Lifetime has ever had.
HBO’s most memorable shows are no longer things like “The Sopranos” or even the vampire fantasy “True Blood.” The awards now are going to dramas based on the likes of Jack Kevorkian, autism activist Temple Grandin and Jackie Onassis’ eccentric relatives.
TLC has kept a tight lid on news of the movie. It is not listed, as is usual practice with movies in production, on IMDB, the Internet movie reference.
No actors for the major roles Levy and Condit have been named, either.
It is also unclear whether Levy’s parents are cooperating with the movie — though her aunt, Linda Zamsky, is said to have filmed an interview that will be incorporated into the movie.
The feelings of the subjects of these real-life movies can be life or death for projects like the Chandra Levy film.
Earlier this month, a $25-million miniseries on John F. Kennedy produced for the History Channel was killed after Caroline Kennedy reportedly objected to its risqué tone and historical accuracy.
So far, no other TV network has been willing to pick it up.