HBO is heading back to one of the most talked-about courtroom cases of the late ’90s.
The network has officially ordered The Trial of Louise Woodward, a five-episode limited series based on the real-life case that captivated audiences on both sides of the Atlantic. Meghann Fahy (The White Lotus, Sirens) is set to star as Louise Woodward, the 18-year-old British au pair whose 1997 trial became an international media sensation.
Behind the camera is an impressive creative team. The series is created, written, and executive produced by Matthew Barry (Industry, The Guest), while Academy and Emmy Award-winning director Susanne Bier (The Night Manager) will direct all five episodes and executive produce.
The drama follows the shocking true story of Woodward, who was accused of fatally shaking a baby in her care while working for an American family. As the case unfolded, it sparked fierce debate over childcare, class, working mothers, and the growing influence of 24/7 news coverage.
HBO’s Francesca Orsi praised the project, calling Barry’s take on the story “compassionate” and highlighting the powerhouse combination of Barry, Bier, and Fahy as an “extraordinary creative team.”
Barry added that the questions raised by the case nearly three decades ago remain just as relevant today, making the series a timely reexamination of a story that continues to provoke discussion.
Production is set to begin this August, with The Trial of Louise Woodward expected to premiere on HBO in 2027.
