Whatever you thought of her as an actress, the 2009 death of Brittany Murphy is still one of the more shocking deaths in Hollywood. Initially ruled an accident as a result of pneumonia and the effects of over-the-counter drugs she'd consumed, her husband, Simon Monjack, also died a year later of pneumonia (combined with anemia). A strange coincidence and one that prompted documentary filmmaker, Emmy nominee Cynthia Hill, to do a new two-part documentary on HBO Max that explores Murphy's life and death. Titled What Happened, Brittany Murphy? , the synopsis is as follows:
A beloved Hollywood starlet known for a number of iconic roles – gone at 32 years old. Unanswered questions, controversial figures, and surrounded by speculation: what really happened to Brittany Murphy? This two-part documentary explores her life beyond headlines, celebrating her legacy and investigating her tragic and untimely death.
Jennifer O’Connell, executive vice president of live-action family programming at HBO Max, had this to say on the project:
“Our Brittany Murphy documentary cuts through the tabloid noise with an elevated, nuanced depiction of a sensational story. Crafting a grounded account of Brittany Murphy’s life struggles and sudden passing comes with great responsibility and we’ve partnered with a masterful creative team to produce a thoughtful examination of a tragedy that has long been cause for speculation." said Jennifer O’Connell, executive vice president of live-action family programming at HBO Max.
Today, the official trailer for the documentary has been released. Check it out below:
What Happened, Brittany Murphy? will premiere on HBO Max on October14th.