DEADLINE: HBO Max has released the first images of Elizabeth Olsen as Candy Montgomery in Love & Death, a limited series about the true story of Texas housewife Candy Montgomery’s murder of Betty Gore in 1980. See the images above and below.
Olsen stars as Montgomery in the series, from the Big Little Lies and The Undoing duo of David E. Kelley and Nicole Kidman and Lionsgate Television. Production is currently underway in Kyle, TX, with premiere set for 2022.
Written by Kelley and directed by Homeland‘s Lesli Linka Glatter, Love and Death is inspired by the book Evidence of Love: A True Story of Passion and Death in the Suburbs and a collection of articles from Texas Monthly (“Love & Death In Silicon Prairie,” Part I & II).
The series revolves around two churchgoing couples enjoying small-town family life in Texas, until somebody picks up an ax.
Jesse Plemons, Lily Rabe, Patrick Fugit, Keir Gilchrist, Elizabeth Marvel, Tom Pelphrey and Krysten Ritter also star.
Kelley executive produces through David E. Kelley Productions; Nicole Kidman and Per Saari through Blossom Films; Glatter (who directs the first four and final episodes); Scott Brown and Megan Creydt through Texas Monthly; Matthew Tinker; Michael Klick and Helen Verno.
THE HOLLYWOOD REPORTER: WandaVision star Elizabeth Olsen is headed to HBO Max for her next TV project.
Olsen will topline Love and Death, a limited series about a notorious murder in Texas in 1980. The series from Lionsgate Television counts David E. Kelley, Nicole Kidman and director Lesli Linka Glatter among its producing team.
Olsen will play Candy Montgomery, who was convicted of murdering her neighbor and friend, Betty Gore, with an ax.
“This is a gripping story about the frustrations and desires of two women in a small town that culminates in a terrible act of violence,” said HBO Max head of original content Sarah Aubrey. “We are thrilled to be partnering with David, Lesli, Nicole, and Per [Saari] and incredibly fortunate to have Elizabeth at the center of our story to bring out all the layers of Candy that make this story so unforgettable.”
Love and Death is the second project about the Montgomery-Gore case to attract a high-profile star. Elisabeth Moss is attached to star in Candy, a limited series that’s in development at Universal Studio Group’s UCP from The Act’s Robin Veith and Nick Antosca.
Love and Death is based on the book Evidence of Love: A True Story of Passion and Death in the Suburbs by John Bloom and Jim Atkinson and a two-part Texas Monthly series by the same authors, “Love & Death in Silicon Prairie.”
“We cannot imagine a more perfect artist to play the leading role of Candy than Elizabeth Olsen,” said Lionsgate TV Group chairman Kevin Beggs. “Her talent, charisma and energy can bewitch audiences like no other. We’re proud to be collaborating with a world-class creative team of Lesli, David and Nicole on this thrilling and intriguing series and to bring another exciting premium property to our partners at HBO Max.”
The project will reunite Big Little Lies and The Undoing’s Kelley, Kidman and Saari. Kelley executive produces via his David E. Kelley Productions along with Kidman and Saari for Blossom Films; Emmy winner Glatter (Homeland); Scott Brown and Megan Creydt for Texas Monthly; and Matthew Tinker, Michael Klick and Helen Verno.
Olsen is repped by Gersh, Brillstein Entertainment Partners and Sloane Offer; Kelley by CAA and attorney Michael Gendler; Kidman by CAA, Media Talent Group and Jackoway Austen; Glatter by CAA, Anonymous Content and Lichter Grossman; and Texas Monthly by CAA.
