It was solely final week that Netflix introduced they have been readying to launch a documentary with the Menendez brothers, a venture that will function Erik and Lyle Menendez talking for the primary time in many years concerning the sensational double homicide that sentenced them every to life in jail again in 1996.
The announcement got here solely days after Netflix’s scripted sequence on the brothers — Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story — had grow to be the No. 1 present on the streamer, which prompted a uncommon public assertion from Erik Menendez, who got here out towards that tackle the brothers’ 1996 murders of their mother and father, José and Mary Louise “Kitty” Menendez. Amid the whirlwind two weeks of press since Monsters first launched — the place producer Ryan Murphy and the prolonged Menendez household have additionally shared their views on the sequence in a public discussion board — Kim Kardashian visited the brothers in jail after which advocated for his or her launch in a viral op-ed.
Now, within the newest flip of occasions within the case, following a habeas corpus petition filed by the brothers in 2023, Los Angeles County District Legal professional George Gascón introduced Thursday evening that their case was once more underneath evaluate, paving the way in which for the brothers to be probably retried, resentenced to a lesser time period and even launched.
All of this, in the meantime, is now coming simply forward of Monday’s The Menendez Brothers documentary.
The producers on the almost two-hour doc, Ross Dinerstein and Rebecca Evans of Campfire Studios, are not any stranger to high-profile tasks, having been behind latest hit choices like Netflix’s American Homicide: Laci Peterson and America’s Sweethearts: Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders, in addition to Max’s Low Nation: The Murdaugh Dynasty, to call a couple of.
However their expertise with this Menendez second is totally different.
Under, Dinerstein and Evans discuss to The Hollywood Reporter about how lengthy The Menendez Brothers documentary has been within the works; how their conversations with Lyle and Erik resulted in additional than 20 hours of audio interviews performed from jail (which has additionally led to a three-episode companion podcast, releasing on Oct. 9); why Monsters and their documentary shouldn’t be seen as companion sequence; and why they don’t must replace the title card that closes out their doc: “I want we may drop it immediately.”
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After engaged on one thing so lengthy, and to see this all type of explode within the information the week of premiere, have you ever skilled this with different tasks earlier than?
ROSS DINERSTEIN I imply no, we haven’t. We’re excited for it to come back out. I want we may drop it immediately. We’ve labored on this for nearly 4 years. We’re actually pleased with it. So many individuals have reached out about it, to ask when it’s popping out. And Netflix has already executed such an excellent job selling it on the service.
REBECCA EVANS This story has stayed type of out and in of the zeitgeist over the previous 30 years. Having been in it so deeply, we all know each single one that is speaking about it on-line, of their books, what they’re doing. And so to have all of it come out actually publicly is fairly attention-grabbing, and fairly thrilling, to be sincere, too, as a result of our documentary actually lays out all our analysis. I’m excited for folks to view it and are available to their very own conclusions.
Is there any likelihood Netflix could launch it earlier than Monday?
DINERSTEIN We don’t know.
Let’s return – when was the seed for this documentary planted? Who approached whom and when?
EVANS How we began with researching and making the documentary ourselves was actually feeling like we needed to get one or each of the brothers on board in an effort to inform their story. It doesn’t really feel proper to inform their story with out their enter and with out them being part of it, on the subject of a documentary particularly. In case you take a look at Campfire’s slate, we’re very adamant at ensuring we’re getting the important thing events on board. And so I began with Lyle, simply reaching out through a letter. And I bought one again. After which truly, his spouse, Rebecca [Sneed], was good sufficient to achieve out to me to then facilitate a telephone name — as a result of I can’t name the jail, I’ve to have them name me. And so we began speaking with Lyle, and type of bought the ball rolling. And it was a few yr after that that Erik got here on board.
In these early conversations, what have been some hesitations or considerations when Lyle heard your pitch?
EVANS We had only a very sincere and open dialog from the get-go. I can’t actually converse for him. It’s his story to inform. And he has no actual qualms about it as a result of he is aware of what occurred.
DINERSTEIN Our firm, Campfire, has an excellent status. We did a present known as The Harmless Man with Netflix and John Grisham, which in the end was an enormous a part of somebody being launched from jail. And so I feel the truth that it’s an organization like ours with the credibility and status, [Lyle] won’t pay attention to it, however I’m certain folks in his life are.
4 years in the past whenever you first began on this venture, the #MeToo shift had already occurred and the tradition of silence was breaking. I’m unsure how a lot the Menendez brothers may really feel that whereas in jail, however what about that point interval bought the ball rolling for them to need to converse out?
EVANS They’re conscious of what’s happening on the skin. And they’re conscious that individuals are extra concerned with their story now greater than ever. They’re conscious that in COVID, Courtroom TV launched their whole trial, which actually kickstarted curiosity once more. And I feel immediately, individuals are circumstances like this, circumstances of abuse, otherwise. So it was a chance to inform their story, each for us and for them, in a special time when individuals are desirous about issues otherwise. It’s a little bit bit reflective, too, of the case and the trial again then of how folks have been feeling like they have been on two totally different sides of what to consider.
When Erik then joined your conversations, I’m certain this venture felt extra actual. Having already been by way of the appeals course of — they usually discuss within the documentary about shedding hope — what did they need to accomplish with this? The place was their mindset? And, was something off-limits?
EVANS We’ve got a companion podcast that’s going to launch on Wednesday [Menendez Brothers Official Podcast], two days after the documentary comes out. It’s with our director Alejandro [Hartmann] and Lyle and Erik, and it actually solutions a few of these questions on what them in doing this, why they needed to inform their story, how they really feel about the whole lot. I feel will probably be a extremely good alternative when folks watch the documentary who need to hear extra from them and the solutions to these questions.
Within the 4 years because you’ve been making this, are you able to pinpoint a second when the advocacy marketing campaign and the TikTok motion round them actually began to take off?
EVANS I feel that it’s nice to have folks wanting to speak about their story, and there are people who find themselves type of combating on their behalf. However actually, all of it has come right down to their attorneys greater than something, and the way they’re coping with the brand new proof, how they’re coping with the brand new habeas petition. That’s the place I really feel just like the crux of the battle is de facto occurring.
DINERSTEIN Relating to the TikTok motion, through the pandemic they aired the primary trial, and the primary trial was a hung jury. It was not one thing {that a} jury of their friends was in a position to convict them on, and it was nearly retried for an entire new technology in actual time, and other people have been very emotional about it.
A key second within the documentary is listening to one of many jurors within the second trial describing in easy phrases the alternatives that they had since manslaughter was off the desk the second time round. He mentioned they needed to determine: Was there a homicide or not? And he mentioned they couldn’t say {that a} homicide didn’t occur. [They were convicted of first-degree murder and sentenced to life in prison without parole in 1996.]
DINERSTEIN Andrew Wolfberg, [that juror], his spouse is one in all my spouse’s superb associates. So I had been speaking with Andrew at dinner events for years about these things. And Andrew had simply handed the bar himself when he bought placed on that jury, so he took his job very significantly. And I requested him, I feel throughout only a chat, did you ever watch the primary trial? He mentioned, “I didn’t have to — I spent 4 months in a jury field.”
The place is Choose Stanley M. Weisberg now, did you attain out to [the judge in the Menendez trials] or have any conversations?
EVANS We did attain out. He’s 80 years previous now. I feel his daughter is taking up issues. However there was no dialog available with him.
In your expertise making this, and searching again on the choices Choose Weisberg made within the second trial, like not permitting their sexual abuse protection, do you assume that might occur if the trial have been immediately?
EVANS I don’t know. I don’t assume I can actually converse for the authorized system, however I feel you’ll see in our documentary, we do have lots of themes of how and why it may need turned out the way in which it did.
Sure, the documentary units the scene of that point — the O.J. Simpson acquittal and Rodney King riots being within the close to background of the second Menendez trial — and the way the world is now at a spot the place male sexual abuse survivors are believed. Why do you assume that is the appropriate time to launch this doc?
EVANS Provided that they’re at the moment in the midst of a habeas — and it could possibly be their final alternative, they’re out of appeals — it could possibly be their final alternative to have one thing actually change for them. It looks like attention-grabbing timing given they’re within the information. And since they’re within the information and due to Monsters, individuals are concerned with what their story is. We’ve executed all of the analysis, we put all of it collectively, and also you’ll hear from them straight.
DINERSTEIN You realize, the doc is completed. We’re actually pleased with it, it’s actually good. And it’s time to come back out.
How did you retain this doc so underneath wraps? It was solely introduced a pair weeks in the past, as Monsters was topping Netflix. Although I perceive that your doc and Monsters have been made fully separate from each other and should not companion sequence.
DINERSTEIN That’s proper, this isn’t a companion to Monsters. We simply need to be sure to say that.
EVANS Like all of our different documentaries, it wasn’t a companion in any means, and so for us, it was nearly releasing this nice story that we spent the time placing collectively within the final 4 years. It actually wasn’t any totally different by way of preserving it underneath wraps. And clearly, Netflix runs a good ship, so no matter they are saying goes!
DINERSTEIN In no matter we do, hardly ever is there any type of announcement for the beginning of manufacturing. It’s not how Netflix markets. It’s rather a lot higher than saying you might be in manufacturing and it then comes out 4 years later.
The choice to launch this so quickly after Monsters I assume was a Netflix resolution. Do you assist that?
DINERSTEIN We’re very pleased with that call. Netflix is aware of what they’re doing. They’re the very best within the enterprise on the subject of launching tasks, so we’ve got no difficulty with it.
EVANS As filmmakers, all you actually need is for folks to look at what you place your coronary heart, soul and vitality into, and it actually is ideal timing as a result of individuals are at an all-time excessive in wanting to grasp their story.
Simply as I completed screening this documentary, the actual information cycle caught up when Los Angeles prosecutors, on Thursday evening, introduced they have been reviewing new proof within the Menendez case and set a listening to date for Nov. 29. The habeas petition was filed in 2023. Did you may have an concept there can be motion the week of your doc premiere?
EVANS We didn’t know there can be any press conferences or something this week. However we’ve got identified concerning the November date. It’s all nonetheless underneath evaluate, so final evening wasn’t any new info for me, truly. It’s simply persevering with to be reviewed. The habeas was filed in 2023, and so for us, after we have been making the documentary, we felt like, we’re not right here to litigate a case. We’re not right here to current proof, or new proof in that means, alongside the attorneys. Our feeling was that this was a narrative that passed off then, and this was all of our analysis on it. It didn’t really feel prefer it modified our perspective on what occurred then to incorporate any of that now if that is smart.
When did you wrap manufacturing?
EVANS Some time in the past. Possibly a yr in the past. And we spent actually a yr enhancing, attempting to determine the easiest way to inform this story. As a result of it’s distinctive that the brothers are calling in, and it’s over audio, so we actually had to determine the right way to inform that story in an efficient means, since audiences aren’t used to that. We have been actually centered on telling the story and preserving it in control in regard to cultural modifications since then.
The Peacock documentary the place Menudo band member Rosselló got here ahead with a sexual abuse allegation towards José Menendez got here out a month earlier than the Menendez brothers filed their habeas petition. That allegation isn’t included in your doc. Did you concentrate on together with it?
EVANS I felt like, that is Erik and Lyle’s story. It’s not likely a narrative concerning the different man within the Menudo case. I feel these are issues audiences will study in litigation and the information, however we actually needed to give attention to the brothers.
Do you intend to replace the ultimate title card within the doc with Thursday’s growth?
EVANS We’ll see concerning the title card. We had no intentions of fixing it, however we clearly didn’t know the press convention was going to be final evening. Audiences have a greater understanding now of what the dialog is, so it might simply be primarily reiterating what we have already got. So, we’ll see.
How in contact have you ever been with Erik and Lyle?
EVANS We have been actually in contact through the entirety of the method, and fortunately their wives are additionally tremendous useful. Now that the documentary has been executed filming for the final yr, I’ve actually simply been in contact with the wives; logistical info and passing alongside messages, that type of stuff. I visited them after we first bought this operating, and I might love to return now that we’ve lastly completed the movie. We’re positively nonetheless pleasant.
Have they seen the ultimate movie?
EVANS Unclear. We’ve got shared it with household, although. Clearly, there are boundaries for what’s obtainable to them, so I’m not likely certain. However they converse to their wives usually sufficient.
If you see Kim Kardashian writing an op-ed on their behalf, after visiting them, what does that inform you concerning the cultural motion that’s now behind them, in comparison with the previous you explored within the doc?
DINERSTEIN It’s thrilling. Kim has an enormous platform and an enormous viewers. Having her converse on their behalf, and I’m certain she’ll say one thing concerning the documentary when she sees it… we do that in order many individuals as potential can see it, and we hope the viewers watches it and involves their very own conclusion.
EVANS And we hope Kim watches it. We’d love for her to test it out. There’s much more to get out of it.
Do you anticipate you’ll discuss to Erik and Lyle when the documentary is out? As a result of I’m questioning concerning the hope they’ve now. Such as you mentioned, the habeas could possibly be their final likelihood, and I think about they’ve a difficult relationship with hope in any case these years.
DINERSTEIN I can converse to the opposite doc we did with prisoners who’re in jail for all times, [Netflix’s The Innocent Man]. They at all times mentioned to me that they at all times have hope, as a result of it will get them off the bed on daily basis. However we’ve by no means actually requested Erik and Lyle about it.
EVANS I positively plan to be in contact after it comes out, as soon as I see the reception of it. I’m very curious to see what audiences assume and the way they’re feeling after watching it, particularly since so many people who find themselves tuning in don’t actually know the story in any respect.
Have you ever watched Monsters?
DINERSTEIN We haven’t.
Do you are interested in watching, contemplating it’s contributing a lot to the cultural dialog?
DINERSTEIN Yeah there simply truthfully just isn’t sufficient time in our schedules proper now to look at it. It’s lengthy, and we’ve simply had our heads down making our venture and ensuring it will get out to the world within the correct means.
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The Menendez Brothers documentary streams on Netflix on Oct. 7. Verify again in with THR for extra with Dinerstein and Evans after the doc releases, and skim extra of our protection on the Menendez brothers.