As parts of the U.S. are currently up in arms over arguably controversial court cases, TV audiences may soon get to see the events behind a landmark Canadian case get spun into a tale for the small screen. That case also happens to be at the center of one of the most depressingly damaging documentaries of all time, Dear Zachary: A Letter to a Son About His Father, which Universal Cable Productions is adapting into a miniseries. I’m assuming whatever network picks this up will advertise by sending potential viewers packets of tissues.
Released in 2008, Dear Zachary is a heartfelt ode to a best friend, as filmmaker Kurt Kuenne set out to make a visual scrapbook about the life of his friend Andrew Bagby, who was allegedly murdered by ex-girlfriend Shirley Turner after he broke up with her. Turner fled to Canada, where she ended up giving birth to Bagby’s child, whom she named Zachary. A custody battle ensued between Turner and Bagby’s parents, which was complicated by the bail laws set up in Canada at the time. And to go into the story any more would be a disservice to those who are waiting to watch the miniseries.
The doc was made to give to Zachary as a way of teaching him about his father, and it’s obviously going to take a big leap as it gets morphed into a narrative drama. (A writer is currently being sought out to pen the screenplay.) A lot of the doc sees Kuenne traveling around to talk to damned near anyone who ever knew Bagby, along with up-to-date footage. You can watch the trailer below, which hints at the devastation.
Kuenne, who is directing the BatKid documentary, created the film as a personal gift to the family before it was given a wider release. He has been dealing with requests to take this story even further ever since, and here’s how he explains his decision to at last go forward with it, according to Deadline
For six years, I’ve turned down overtures to dramatize this story because I didn’t think such a production needed to exist, but the number of people who’ve written me to say this story changed their life made me realize that bringing it to a wider audience might do a lot of good, as long as the story was told with humanity, dignity and honesty.”
Assuming they find the right person to write this, Dear Zachary could be instant Emmy material, along with the reason why 2015 television felt so damned sad. Have you guys seen the documentary? Would you watch this?
