Elizabeth Banks to Star as Karen Read in True-Crime Series Based on Infamous Murder Trial

The Prime Video limited series will explore the gripping case of Karen Read, who was accused and later acquitted in the high-profile death of Boston police officer John O’Keefe.

Washington DC [US], August 31: Hollywood star Elizabeth Banks is set to take on one of the most challenging roles of her career — portraying Karen Read in an upcoming limited series that dives deep into one of America’s most sensational and divisive trials.

The series, inspired by the Law & Crime and Wondery podcast Karen, will dramatize the turbulent case that captivated the nation. Read, once accused of murdering her boyfriend John O’Keefe, a Boston police officer, was eventually acquitted in June 2025 after a lengthy legal battle that spanned multiple trials and drew intense media scrutiny.

The show will be helmed by Justin Noble (The Sex Lives of College Girls), who will serve as both showrunner and executive producer, alongside celebrated storyteller David E. Kelley.

The case itself was as chilling as it was tragic. On January 29, 2022, O’Keefe was found comatose in the snow outside a fellow officer’s home. The autopsy revealed blunt force trauma and hypothermia. Prosecutors alleged that Read, intoxicated, had struck him with her car during a winter storm before leaving the scene. Despite pleading not guilty at every stage, she faced a slew of charges including second-degree murder, manslaughter, and vehicular homicide.

But in a dramatic courtroom turn, Read was acquitted of the most serious charges following a mistrial and retrial. She was, however, convicted of operating under the influence. Standing outside the courthouse after her acquittal, she emotionally addressed her supporters:

“I would not be standing here without these amazing supporters who have stood by me and my team — financially, but more importantly, emotionally.”

The trial not only made Karen Read a household name but also left lasting debates about justice, privilege, and media narratives.

For Elizabeth Banks, this project marks her first portrayal of a real-life figure on screen, adding another milestone to her versatile career. It also comes on the heels of her successful role in Prime Video’s The Better Sister, where she starred opposite Jessica Biel as estranged siblings in a gripping adaptation of Alafair Burke’s novel.

With its high-stakes courtroom drama, complex character study, and exploration of truth versus perception, the Karen Read series promises to be one of the most talked-about shows in the true-crime genre.