GET A FIRST LOOK AT ELLE FANNING IN THE 'TEXTING SUICIDE' TRUE-CRIME DRAMA THE GIRL FROM PLAINVILLE
First Published on EntertainmentWeekly.com
THE EIGHT-EPISODE LIMITED SERIES IS BASED ON THE SHOCKING TRUE STORY OF MICHELLE CARTER'S UNPRECEDENTED CASE THAT IGNITED A MEDIA FIRESTORM.
How do you tell a sensational story without, well, sensationalizing it?
Such was the issue for writers, executive producers, and co-showrunners Liz Hannah and Patrick Macmanus as they set out to make The Girl From Plainville. The eight-episode Hulu limited series is inspired by the shocking true story of Michelle Carter's unprecedented "texting-suicide" case that ignited a media firestorm. Based on the Esquire article of the same name by Jesse Barron, the series explores Carter's relationship with Conrad Roy III and the events that led to his death and, later, her conviction of involuntary manslaughter.
Elle Fanning stars as Carter (see the exclusive first look below) in addition to serving as executive producer, and according to Macmanus, it was the star who wanted to take particular care with how the story was told. "She did not want this to feel sensational," he tells EW. "She wanted it to be an honest portrayal of not just these families and what they went through, but from what people are going through in general on a day-to-day basis when it comes to their mental health."