True crime fans have been waiting for this one. Yes, it's been confirmed that Amazon Prime Video is diving into one of Massachusetts’ most closely watched legal battles with a new limited series centred on the Karen Read case. However, in the latest on this forthcoming project, Read has come forward and said she has not authorised the series. Speaking publicly for the first time since she was acquitted, Read told Howie Carr, “I have nothing to do with that; it’s not authorised by me in any way." She continued, “There is more to this story — I won’t say another side, I think that the public at large knows this story, they know the truth, but there’s a lot more to it than what, I think, Elizabeth Banks knows at this point.”

Naturally, our intrigue is at an all-time high. Everything you need to know about the Karen read series, below.

How much of the Karen Read series is true?

The series is based on Karen, the popular Law & Crime podcast that chronicled the trial from start to finish. The case began in January 2022, when Boston police officer John O’Keefe was found dead in the snow outside a Canton home. Prosecutors argued that his girlfriend, Karen Read, struck him with her SUV after a night of drinking.

The defence countered that Read was the victim of a cover-up by law enforcement, claiming the investigation was riddled with inconsistencies and conflicts of interest.

The trial concluded in June 2025 with Read acquitted of murder and manslaughter but convicted of drunken driving, for which she received probation.

Did Karen Read kill John O’Keefe?

The Karen Read trial centred on whether she intentionally struck her boyfriend, Boston police officer John O’Keefe, with her SUV or whether she was framed in a police cover-up after he was injured at a party.

This remains the central question that divided the public throughout the trial: prosecutors insisted that Read’s vehicle was the weapon, while the defence pointed to what they said was a botched investigation designed to protect others present at the home that night.

The jury’s decision reflected the uncertainty – Read was acquitted of murder and manslaughter but convicted of DUI – leaving many in Massachusetts and beyond still debating whether justice was truly served.

Who plays Karen Read in the series?

Elizabeth Banks will portray Read in the adaptation. For Banks, the role marks a shift toward playing a real-life figure entangled in a high-profile case. Her involvement extends behind the camera as well, producing the series through her Brownstone Productions.

Who else is behind the show?

Prime Video has stacked its creative roster. Justin Noble (The Sex Lives of College Girls) is attached as showrunner and writer, while David E. Kelley (Boston Legal, Presumed Innocent), one of TV’s most seasoned courtroom-drama creators, joins as executive producer. Wondery and Law & Crime, both instrumental in covering the case in real time, will also produce, promising a blend of scripted drama and documentary-style detail.

When will it be released?

With production in such early stages, no release date has yet been announced. But, we'll keep you updated here as we know more.

Feature image: film still fromThe Better Sister (2025).