Lifetime is taking another stab at Lizzie Borden. This week, the cable network announced that it will produce a 6-episode limited series based on the life of the woman acquitted for killing her mom and dad. The new series is rolling with the title Lizzie Borden: The Fall River Chronicles. The limited series is the follow-up to the network’s recent movie Lizzie Borden Took An Ax.
The series will pick up after the events in Lizzie Borden Took An Ax, and as it is a sequel of sorts to the movie, many of the same characters will be involved. Christina Ricci will be back to play Lizzie and Clea DuVall has signed on to play Lizzie’s sister, Emma, once more. According to the network, the show will pick up a short time after Lizzie was acquitted for murdering her mother and father with an ax.
In real-life Lizzie Borden stayed in Fall River, Massachusetts after her high-profile trial. She lived a mostly quiet life, although she never lived down her reputation, exacerbated by her probable shoplifting issues. That wouldn’t exactly make for great television, however, and that’s not how Lifetime plans to play out Lizzie Borden: The Fall River Chronicles. Instead the show will focus on a series of mysterious deaths in Fall River, including the deaths of Lizzie’s half-brother and a criminal mastermind.
Lifetime has also signed on a few other names for Lizzie Borden: The Fall River Chronicles. Prison Break and Home Alone dad John Heard has signed on to play William Almy, a businessman who just so happened to work with Lizzie’s father before he was whacked. Limitless actor Andrew Howard will play Lizzie’s half-brother, although we have no idea how long that gig will last before he becomes one of the aforementioned victims. Finally, Rogue’s Cole Hauser will play Pinkerton detective Charlie Siringo, who will investigate the deaths, attempting to prove that Ms. Borden was the mastermind behind them all.
Christina Ricci and Judith Verno will executive produce the project, which will be written by Greg Small, Rich Blaney, Barbara Nance, Jason Grote and David Simkins. Covert Affairs director Stephen Kay will helm the first two episodes.
We’ve moved from the realm of historical fiction into historical fantasy, but Lifetime seems pretty happy to be there. After all, why not? The network is known for its juicy storytelling and Lizzie Borden Took An Ax did quite well for the cable channel, pulling in 4.4 million total viewers, just falling short of the highly watched Flowers in the Attic premiere.
Lifetime hasn’t set an official premiere date, yet, but whether you are interested in the fake history of Lizzie Borden or not, expect to see Lizzie Borden: The Fall River Chronicles hit the schedule in 2015.
