The involuntary manslaughter trial of Michael Jackson’s former physician, Dr. Conrad Murray, has yet to come to an end, but the embattled doctor already seems intent on starting up the next chapter of his Hollywood life. Reports claim that Murray has been quietly filming a documentary throughout the trial and is now shopping the film to several major TV networks.
According to the New York Post’s Page Six, Murray has sold the rights “to his story” to an unnamed production company that has been filming daily interviews with him since the start of the trial. The production company is now trying to sell the documentary as part of a package deal, including a video diary and a sit-down interview with Murray, to networks.
It’s rumored that the production company wants to sell the documentary for $1 million, though it’s unclear how much of that Murray would receive.
“A news division that pays for the documentary will end up with a side deal of getting the sit-down with Conrad,” a source said. “It’s crafted in such a way for a news division that doesn’t pay for interviews.”
And if Murray is found guilty of being criminally negligent in administering the anesthetic propofol to Jackson before his death in 2009, he and the production company have already thought of a plan b.
“They have already filmed a long interview in case he’s taken into custody,” said a source.
The package documentary deal initially caught the attention of venerable news network CNN, but the network now claims that they’ve passed on the deal.
“We are not considering, we passed on it,” said a CNN rep to Page Six.
Sources say that NBC is closing to inking a deal with the production company, possibly securing the interview for the “Today” show. However, some are saying that there may not be enough interest in Murray for a network to buy the documentary.
“I question whether there is enough interest in him,” a competitor mused. “It’s more interesting if he’s found not guilty.”
Today, both the prosecution and defense ae expected to present their closing arguments in the involuntary manslaughter trial. If convicted, Murray faces up to four years in prison and the loss of his medical license.
Whatever, the jury decides for Murray, it looks like he plans to make himself a profitable star either way. –nicholas robinson
