The race to produce true crime and documentary about Luigi Mangione — the man accused of killing United Healthcare CEO Brian Thompson in New York — continues to get more crowded. Next up, Variety has learned that Warner Bros. Discovery true crime network Investigation Discovery is readying its own take on the story, which has dominated headlines in recent days. The project, with the working title “Who Is Luigi Mangione?” is set to premiere in February.
TV host, reporter and Law & Crime founder Dan Abrams is behind the hour-long special, which ID confirmed, adding that it would delve “into the lingering questions surrounding Mangione’s arrest and explores how a young man of such wealth and privilege could seemingly commit such a heinous crime” while aiming to “explore the psychology behind the alleged assassin.”
Abrams is CEO and Founder of Abrams Media, chief legal affairs correspondent for ABC News, host of NewsNation’s “Dan Abrams Live” and Reelz’s “On Patrol: Live,” and also has a show on SiriusXM. The ID special will feature him and “other experts, industry insiders, and people close to Mangione,” ID added, and “will examine his mental state and investigate the theories surrounding the events that led to his arrest.”
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This reps the third Mangione-related project to be revealed on Monday. Earlier in the day, Variety exclusively reported that Stephen Robert Morse, who produced Netflix documentary “Amanda Knox,” was focusing a new project on the United Healthcare murder and its aftermath, including the victims, their families and Mangione himself. And before that, Anonymous Content and Alex Gibney’s Jigsaw Prods confirmed they are also pursuing a separate documentary project about the case.
Thompson was killed on Dec. 4 outside of a Manhattan hotel. Mangione, 26, was found on Dec. 9 Altoona, Pa.
“Who Is Luigi Mangione?” will be produced by Wheelhouse’s Twist Media in partnership with Law & Crime for Investigation Discovery. ID has found great success in ripped-from-the-headlines specials and docs; the network found a next level of success early in 2024 with “Quiet on Set: The Dark Side of Kids TV,” and followed that up with events including “Chris Brown: A History of Violence,” an upcoming docuseries about Sean “Diddy” Combs, and more.