5Star Commissions Sleeping with My Murderer Docuseries

Paramount’s 5Star has commissioned true-crime indie FirstLookTV to produce the ten-part docuseries Sleeping with My Murderer.

While documenting ten tragic love stories, the series reflects on the early signs of abuse and exposes weaknesses in the system designed to protect people from potentially lethal behavior, with the participation of victims’ family members, law enforcement and legal professionals.

The series aims to alert audiences to the signs of escalating danger and inform them of the resources available to support victims before it’s too late.

FirstLookTV will also launch a U.S.-only version called Meet Marry Murder on A&E’s lifetime channel in late 2023. The series is distributed by Abacus Media Rights.

Will Hanrahan, founder of FirstLookTV and executive producer on Sleeping with My Murderer, said: “We’re pleased to be working with our Paramount colleagues again on a series we feel will make an important contribution to understanding how domestic abuse can escalate. Our series, made in collaboration with ten British families, will show heartbreaking examples of relationships that end in tragedy. Working also with campaigning charities, we want our series to act as a vital source of information for those who feel they are in an abusive relationship.”

Damian O’Hara, acquisitions manager at Paramount Global, noted: “This is an important series that takes us to the core of controlling, coercive and dangerous relationships. Through these powerful true cases and brave family testimonials, our viewers will explore a world of silence and secrecy, and discover the ultimate heartbreak and devastating tragedy that results.”

Jonathan Ford, founder of Abacus Media Rights, added: “We know FirstLook’s work and were happy to facilitate a productive, creative dialogue. It’s an excellent series and we look forward to bringing it to market.”