Bold headline: Lifetime’s January slate dives into headline-grabbing stories, featuring a high-profile Kate Beckinsale-led thriller, a real-life Karen Read case dramatization, and Mary Jo Buttafuoco’s personal retelling. Dive into three new, reality-inspired films premiering in January, all with exclusive imagery and fresh storytelling angles.
Stolen Girl
Premieres January 3 at 8p/7c
A true-events drama following Maureen Danning (Beckinsale) whose life is shattered when her ex-husband abducts their young daughter, Amina, and flees to the Middle East. Determined to recover her child, Maureen teams up with Robeson (Eastwood), a former Marine and child-abduction specialist who vows to locate Amina.
Together, they embark on a perilous mission through Beirut, stepping into the dangerous world of international espionage. As time runs out and Maureen faces life’s hardest choice, they must cut through betrayal, corruption, and hidden agendas to bring the stolen girl home.
The film is directed by James Kent ( Testament of Youth ) with a screenplay by Kas Graham and Rebecca Pollock. Executive producers include Brian Erickson, Josh Goldsteun, Kas Graham, Eric Laufer, Danielle Maloni, David Polemeni, Rebecca Pollock, Giovanna Randall, Richard Salvatore, and David Tickle.
Accused: The Karen Read Story
Premieres January 10 at 8p/7c
When Boston Police Officer John O’Keefe is found dead in a snowbank outside a friend’s home, his girlfriend Karen Read is charged in connection with the death. What begins as a shocking tragedy quickly ignites a national media firestorm. Based on a true story, Accused: The Karen Read Story follows the relentless pursuit of justice to clear Read’s name as trials fracture the close-knit Canton, Massachusetts community. Read’s supporters rally around her as she asserts her innocence.
Read’s case stands as the latest in Lifetime’s January lineup. In April, she was found not guilty of second-degree murder and manslaughter and received probation for DUI; her first trial ended in a hung jury. No other charges have been filed in O’Keefe’s 2022 death.
With no official trial date yet set, O’Keefe’s family will pursue a wrongful-death suit against Read, while Read has herself filed civil-rights and misconduct lawsuits against the Massachusetts State Police and others, alleging a conspiracy to frame her. A trial date is TBD.
Accused: The Karen Read Story is produced by A New England Road and Front Street Pictures for Lifetime, with executive producers Allen White, Rama Diallo, Helen Verno, and Judith Verno. The script is by Gregory Small and Richard Blaney, and the project is directed by Linda-Lisa Hayter.
I Am Mary Jo Buttafuoco
Premieres January 17 at 8p/7c
Mary Jo Buttafuoco narrates and executive-produces this installment of Lifetime’s I Am... franchise, recounting the events surrounding the 1992 shooting outside her Long Island home. Mary Jo (Chloe Lanier) survived a gunshot to the head fired by her husband’s teenage lover, Amy Fisher (Maddy Hillis), while tabloids sensationalized the scandal and the “Long Island Lolita” nickname dominated headlines.
The film delves into why the Buttafuocos remained married for seven years after the incident, the lasting impact of the bullet still lodged in Mary Jo’s head, and how she found resilience and purpose in the aftermath. She reflects on enduring intense public scrutiny, media glare, and personal struggles such as depression, doubts, and addiction as she rebuilt her life.
Mary Jo shares, “Thirty-three years after surviving a near-fatal shooting, I’ve transformed pain into purpose. Through my book and motivational work, I’ve learned to speak my truth and help others find strength.” She adds, “Now, this story is told from my perspective—part true crime headline, part journey of healing and reclaiming my voice.”
I Am Mary Jo Buttafuoco is produced by Bruce Harvey for CMW Valley Productions Inc. in association with Studio TF1 America. Executives include Sheri Singer, Timothy O. Johnson, Melody diDonato, and Mary Jo Buttafuoco. Heather Hawthorn Doyle directs from a script by Gregg McBride.
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