HBO has officially ordered The Trial of Louise Woodward, a five-episode limited series based on the 1997 case involving British au pair Louise Woodward. According to a Warner Bros. Discovery press release, two-time Emmy nominee Meghann Fahy (The White Lotus, The Bold Type, The Perfect Couple) will star in the series. 

Created, written and executive produced by Matthew Barry (Industry, Chilling Adventures of Sabrina, The Guest), the series will be directed by Academy Award- and Emmy Award-winning filmmaker Susanne Bier (After the Wedding, In a Better World, The Perfect Couple), who will also serve as an executive producer. 

According to the official logline, the series follows the story of an 18-year-old British au pair accused of causing the death of a baby left in her care, igniting an international media frenzy that unfolded before audiences in both the United Kingdom and the United States. 

Woodward’s trial became one of the most widely publicized criminal cases of the late 1990s. Her case drew extensive international media attention and sparked conversations about class differences, childcare, media coverage and cultural tensions.

Francesca Orsi, executive vice president of HBO Programming and head of HBO drama series and films, praised the project in a statement. “We are thrilled to partner with Matthew Barry and Susanne Bier on this new series and to welcome Meghann Fahy back to the HBO family.”

Barry also reflected on the significance of the case. “The Trial of Louise Woodward raised profound questions about childcare, working mothers, class, and the role of an emerging 24/7 media. Thirty years later, those questions feel more urgent and relevant than ever.” 

Barry serves as showrunner, writer and executive producer alongside Frank Spotnitz (The X-Files, The Man in the High Castle, We Come in Peace), Emily Feller (Adolescence, Devils, Trust Me), Tobi de Graaff (The Trial of Louise Woodward) and Antoine Douaihy (Black Hawk Down, Our Flag Means Death, The Good Cop). Production is expected to begin in August, and the series is scheduled to premiere in 2027.