Laura Dern to Star as Julie K. Brown in Epstein Reporting Drama

Academy Award–winning actor Laura Dern is set to portray investigative journalist Julie K. Brown in a new limited television series currently in development at Sony Pictures Television, according to reports confirmed on March 30, 2026.

The project will be the first scripted drama to focus specifically on the journalism that exposed the controversial plea deal that shielded financier Jeffrey Epstein from federal prosecution for years.

The series is based on Brown’s 2021 book, Perversion of Justice: The Jeffrey Epstein Story, which details her work at the Miami Herald. Brown’s reporting played a central role in reopening the Epstein case more than a decade after a 2008 non-prosecution agreement allowed him to avoid federal charges.

A high-profile production team is attached to the project. Adam McKay, known for Succession and Don’t Look Up, will executive produce alongside Kevin Messick under their Hyperobject Industries banner. Dern will also serve as an executive producer with Jayme Lemons through Jaywalker Pictures.

Writing and showrunning duties will be handled by Sharon Hoffman (Mrs. America, House of Cards) and Eileen Myers (The Night Agent, Masters of Sex).

The series is described as a “David versus Goliath” journalistic thriller. It will follow Brown’s multi-year investigation, including her efforts to locate and gain the trust of more than 80 survivors willing to speak publicly. The story will also examine how her reporting uncovered the secret 2008 deal negotiated by federal prosecutors, including then–U.S. Attorney Alex Acosta, and how those findings contributed to renewed federal charges in 2019 against Epstein and associate Ghislaine Maxwell.

As of late March 2026, the project is being pitched to networks and streaming platforms. No release date or distributor has been announced. However, the involvement of Dern and McKay positions the series as a likely contender in the next wave of high-profile television dramas.