Taking a tip from Nat Geo, CNN has added Ridley Scott to its summer schedule. The writer-director’s tantalizing new series “Crimes of the Century,” set to premiere on June 23, will focus each week during its eight-episode run on a shocking historical event with far-reaching repercussions. Subjects include the assassination of John Lennon, the Amanda Knox murder trial and the Oklahoma City bombing.
The series’ debut focuses on the 2001 Beltway sniper attacks (recently dramatized in critically acclaimed Sundance entry “Blue Caprice”), a much-publicized series of deadly and chaotic shootings in the Washington D.C. area. Each episode will feature archival and never-before-seen footage, as well as exclusive interviews.
Scott’s collaboration with Bill O’Reilly for “Killing Lincoln” and now “Killing Jesus” has and will continue to do gangbusters business for National Geographic. CNN is following suit, wanting a piece of the pie.
In that vein, “Crimes of the Century” is one of a few different non-fiction series to be added to CNN’s news lineup. A documentary on Richard Nixon was recently scooped up by the network, as well a docu-series on Chicago, to be executive produced by Robert Redford. “Inside Man,” another docu-series, is hosted by Morgan Spurlock and will air immediately following “Crimes of the Century” on Sunday nights.
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