Investigation Discovery Greenlights First Original Scripted TV Movie

SILVER SPRING: Investigation Discovery (ID) has ordered its first-ever scripted true-crime movie, Dating Game Killer, which Thinkfactory Media is producing.

The thriller is being directed by Peter Medak (Romeo is Bleeding, The Krays). It stars Guillermo Diaz (Scandal, Weeds) as Rodney Alcala, a man with a near-genius IQ, whose charm and smooth talking ability landed him an appearance on the TV show The Dating Game in 1978—and, subsequently, a place in history as one of America’s most prolific serial killers.

Dating Game Killer is slated to launch in early 2017 on ID.

“ID has become the premier destination for consistent, high-quality, true-crime content, and we’re excited to extend our storytelling with Dating Game Killer, our first scripted movie,” said Henry Schleiff, the group president of Investigation Discovery, American Heroes Channel and Destination America. “Thinkfactory’s creative vision and our stellar cast will bring to life the cat-and-mouse story of how Alcala evaded the justice system for years and, as such, this is a frightening but true cautionary tale of how we must increasingly be ever vigilant of the evil that lurks, today, in our society.”

“It’s a real privilege to be working with the team at ID on their first scripted project,” said Leslie Greif, founder and CEO of Thinkfactory Media and executive producer on the movie. “They have collaborated with us to gather a top-tier director and cast; allowing us to bring a real depth and sophistication to these characters and this story. Alcala is a harrowing figure and we are confident the ID audience will be fully engaged with Alcala’s story and those of the investigators and mother of one of the victims who helped finally bring Alcala to justice.”