Lifetime Expands Foray of Movies Inspired by Best-Selling True Crime Author Ann Rule Novels with Two New Greenlights

Building off its Ripped from the Headlines movies and Life and Crime unscripted series, Lifetime continues to dive deep into true crime content, greenlighting two all-new movies, Desperate Hours (wt) and A Rose For Her Grave (wt), inspired by books by New York Times best-selling true crime author, Ann Rule.

DESPERATE HOURS (wt)

Desperate Hours (wt) marks Gina Gershon’s long-form directorial debut and her return to Lifetime having previously starred as Donatella Versace in House of Versace in 2013 and in the LMN miniseries Everything She Ever Wanted in 2009, which was also based on an Ann Rule’s novel. Gershon directs Samantha Mathis (Billions), Harrison Thomas (Better Call Saul), and David Conrad in the film.

Adapted from Ann Rule’s Last Chance, Last Dance true crime collection, Desperate Hours follows Val (Samantha Mathis), a mother who finds herself and her young children held hostage by Denny (Harrison Thomas) when he forces his way into her house after committing murder earlier that day. In order to save them and her husband Mark (David Conrad), who was due home at any moment, Val offers to drive Denny wherever he wants and becomes his unwilling accomplice as he goes on a rampage of destruction. Despite the traumatic events, Val builds a rapport with her captor and uses the relationship to help save the lives of bystanders, herself, and even the life of her captor.

A ROSE FOR HER GRAVE (wt)

A Rose For Her Grave (wt) is headlined by Chrishell Stause (Selling Sunset, Days of Our Lives), Colin Egglesfield (Something Borrowed, The Client List) and Laura Ramsey (She’s the Man) and follows the crimes of notorious serial wife-killer Randy Roth and the fearless woman who finally brings him to justice.

In A Rose For Her Grave (wt), following the death of her husband, single mom Cindy (Ramsey), finally finds love again with mechanic Randy Roth (Egglesfield) but her wedded bliss soon turns dark when she discovers another side of Randy. Despite the pleas of her best friend Lori (Stause) to leave her marriage, Cindy never gets that opportunity after she drowns during a trip to a lake with Randy and the kids. Emotionless following Cindy’s death, Randy orders her immediate cremation, takes custody of Cindy’s kids, and attempts to collect on her life insurance policy. Determined to honor Cindy and find the truth, Lori uncovers more of Randy’s past, discovering that Cindy may not have been the first wife murdered at his hands.

Desperate Hours (wt) and A Rose For Her Grave (wt) will both debut in 2023 on Lifetime and are produced by Allegheny Image Factory and Best On Best. Conor Allyn and Benjamin Anderson serve as executive producers and Jeff Tinnell and Bob Tinell serve as producers for both films. Allyn and Anderson wrote the script for Desperate Hours and A Rose From Her Grave. This marks the fifth and sixth Ann Rule adaptation Allyn and Anderson have Executive Produced, including Sleeping With Danger, Circle Of Deception, A Murder To Remember, and A House on Fire, which the latter they also penned.

The new greenlights brings Lifetime to ten projects based on the prolific author’s body of work throughout the network’s history. Other Lifetime movies adapted from Ann Rule’s works include Too Late to Say Goodbye with Rob Lowe; Hunt for the I-5 Killer starring John Corbett; Everything She Ever Wanted with Gina Gershon; Capture of the Green River Killerstarring Tom Cavanagh; Sleeping with Danger (adapted from Mortal Danger) featuring Elisabeth Rohm; Circle of Deception (adapted from Practice to Deceive) starring Diane Neal and directed by Ashley Williams; A Murder to Remember (adapted from Empty Promises) directed by Robin Givens, and A House on Fire (adapted from Bitter Harvest) starring Stephanie March.