Arrow Media Options Books on Bill Cosby & Roman Polanski

Arrow Media has optioned Chasing Cosby: The Downfall of America’s Dad and The Girl: A Life in the Shadow of Roman Polanski for a pair of factual titles.

Nicole Weisensee Egan, the journalist and author behind Chasing Cosby: The Downfall of America’s Dad, investigated the Bill Cosby case, developing ties with sources and uncovering details that would come to influence his prosecution. Arrow’s series will hear testimony from survivors and explore his web of enablers. It will feature interviews with detectives, lawyers, journalists and jury members.

A memoir from the woman at the center of the Roman Polanski sexual assault case, The Girl: A Life in the Shadow of Roman Polanski is being developed in conjunction with Alan Handel from Handel Productions. In the documentary, Samantha Geimer will tell her story in full for the first time, reflecting on the events of that day and their lifelong repercussions. It will feature exclusive access to Geimer, her mother Susan Gailey, their family lawyer as well as access to Geimer’s archive of photographs and personal diaries.

Anna Davies, executive producer of development at Arrow Media, said: “Both of these stories are ultimately about the abuse of power and the power of celebrity. Arrow Media’s reputation is built on getting exceptional access. From our award-winning feature film adaptation of the book Under the Wire, Paul Conroy’s untold story about his last, tragic assignment in Syria with Marie Colvin; to our ratings-winning Mind of a Monster feature doc strand for Investigation Discovery, we have a huge range of personal profiles to our credit. Bringing these stories alive in a new way, with never-before-heard voices and new evidence, is one of our greatest passions. We are thrilled to have secured access to two such important and timely stories, which are bound to have huge international appeal.”

Geimer, author of The Girl: A Life in the Shadow of Roman Polanski, said: “Arrow Media has a fantastic ability to unpack multi-faceted stories, particularly stories that need to be told. I’m delighted to be partnering with them on this project and am very much looking forward to my story being told onscreen for the first time.”