LIFETIME GREENLIGHTS "THE CHRIS WATTS STORY" (Working Title) STARRING SEAN KLEIER, ASHLEY WILLIAMS, AND BROOKE SMITH BASED ON TRUE EVENTS

From Sony Pictures Television, Judith Verno Produces the Film

Network Will Air New PSA for Stop Violence Against Women Following Movie Providing Resources and Information

LOS ANGELES, CA (August 21, 2019) - A year after the tragic murders of Shanann Watts and her two young daughters by her own husband Chris Watts, Lifetime has greenlit the new movie, The Chris Watts Story (WT), revealing the months that led up to the horrific crime and piecing together the mysterious motives that made this doting father turn into a cold-blooded killer. Produced by Sony Pictures Television, the Lifetime Feature stars Sean Kleier (Odd Mom Out) as Chris, Ashley Williams (How I Met Your Mother), as Shanann and Brooke Smith (Bates Motel, Ray Donovan) as FBI agent Tammy Lee, who helped to bring Chris Watts to justice. Based on real-life events and taped confessions, The Chris Watts Story (WT) is set to debut in 2020.

When Chris Watts tearfully pleaded to television cameras for the safe return of his missing pregnant wife Shanann and their two young daughters, dark secrets loomed just beneath the surface. As the story spread, hearts went out to the distraught father and husband, who appeared to lead a charmed life. But days later, after failing a lie detector test, Chris confessed to brutally murdering his family and slowly revealed the horrific details of their deaths. Friends and family were left reeling, looking for answers as his double life and secret affair came to light.

The Chris Watts Story (WT) is produced by Sony Pictures Television. Judith Verno/Peace Out Productions (Escaping the NXIVM Cult: A Mother's Fight to Save Her Daughter) serves as executive producer. Michael Nankin (Van Helsing) directs from a script written by Barbara Marshall (The Bad Seed).

As part of Lifetime's Stop Violence Against Women campaign, a PSA will run following the movie's debut, driving viewers to resources on domestic abuse, crisis help lines and other valuable information.

ABOUT SONY PICTURES TELEVISION

Sony Pictures Television (SPT) is one of the television industry's leading content providers, producing, distributing and carrying programming worldwide in every genre and for every platform. In addition to managing one of the industry's largest libraries of award-winning feature films, television shows and formats, SPT is home to a thriving global content business, operating 24 wholly-owned or joint-venture production companies in 12 countries, as well as linear and digital channels around the world. Sony Pictures Television is a Sony Pictures Entertainment Company.

ABOUT LIFETIME

Celebrating 35 years of entertaining audiences, Lifetime is a premier entertainment destination for women dedicated to offering the highest quality original programming spanning award-winning movies, high-quality scripted series and breakout non-fiction series. Lifetime has an impressive legacy in public affairs, bringing attention to social issues that women care about with initiatives such as the long running Stop Breast Cancer for Life now in its 25th year, Stop Violence Against Women which relaunched in 2018, and Broader Focus, a major global initiative dedicated to supporting and hiring female directors, writers and producers, including women of color, to make its content. Lifetime Television(R), LMN(R), Lifetime Real Women(R) and Lifetime Digital(TM) are part of Lifetime Entertainment Services, LLC, a subsidiary of A+E Networks. A+E Networks is a joint venture of the Disney-ABC Television Group and Hearst Corporation.