HBO to Produce Limited Series “The Trial of Louise Woodward”

HBO has commissioned a five‑episode limited series titled “The Trial of Louise Woodward.” The drama will star two‑time Emmy nominee Meghann Fahy and is directed by Academy‑awarded filmmaker Susanne Bier. Writer‑showrunner Matthew Barry, along with executive producers Frank Spotnitz, Emily Feller, Tobi de Graaff and Antoine Douaihy, will steer the project, with production slated to begin in August and a planned 2027 release.

The series dramatizes the high‑profile 1997 case of 18‑year‑old British au pair Louise Woodward, who was accused of shaking a baby to death while caring for the child in a Massachusetts home. The trial captured intense media attention on both sides of the Atlantic, raising questions about childcare, working mothers, class and the emerging 24/7 news cycle. Barry said the story “raised profound questions … thirty years later, those questions feel more urgent and relevant than ever.” HBO programming EVP Francesca Orsi praised the creative team and noted the series will bring “this gripping true story … to the screen.”