According to Deadline, FX has ordered a show based in the seventies called Trust. The 10 episode first installment of the limited series will center on John Paul Getty III AKA the heir to the great American fortune.
Beginning in the year 1973, the first installment will center on the kidnapping of 16-year old Getty and how his own family initially refuses to pay the $17 million ransom. Getty addresses a letter to his parents which says “Since Monday I have fallen into the hands of kidnappers. Don’t let me be killed.” His grandfather J. Paul Getty refuses to pay even after the kidnapper send his family one of Getty’s ear which they cut off.
After months pass, the ransom goes down from $17 million to around $3 million. Then Getty’s grandfather who was considered the richest man in the world from his oil holdings pays a tax deductible of $2.2 million with Getty’s father John Paul Getty II who pays the remaining $800,000 to free Getty.
John Paul Getty III passed away in 2011 at the age of 54. He had a drug related stroke in 1981 which led to partial blindness and paralysis for the remainder of his life. In a statement, Eric Schrier, the co-President of Original Programming for FX said “Simon, Danny and Christian have done a magnificent job of telling the story of the Getty family empire and its tumultuous history with Trust.” Schrier went on to state that “Simon’s script wonderfully dramatizes the notorious and bizarre kidnapping of J. Paul Getty’s grandson. It’s the perfect way to open this limited series, allowing us to see how three generations, including one of the world’s richest men, clash when family, fortune and reputation are in jeopardy.”
Serving as executive producers for Trust are Danny Boyle, Simon Beaufoy, and Christian Colson. Beaufoy will also be writing for the series. Boyle received an Academy Award for best director for the famous film Slumdog Millionaire in addition to two other Oscar nominations for best picture and adapted screenplay for 127 Hours. Beaufoy won an Academy Award for his screenplay of Slumdog Millionaire and he was also nominated for his screenplays for 127 Hours and The Full Monty. Last but not least, Colson received an Academy Award as producer for Slumdog Millionaire. Additionally, he was nominated for best picture for Selma and 127 Hours.
Currently, there’s no set date for when Trust will premiere on FX.