HBO considering fourth WEST MEMPHIS THREE documentary

Movie about 12 years agoby

There have already been three films about the West Memphis Three - Damien Echols, 36, Jason Baldwin, 34, and Jessie Misskelley, 36 - and now HBO is considering a fourth film. Joe Berlinger and Bruce Sinofsky directed the 1996 documentary called Paradise Lost: The Child Murders at Robin Hood Hills, and a sequel follow-up film made in 2000 called Paradise Lost 2: Revelations. The third film is called Paradise Lost 3: Purgatory. and is slated to premiere at TIFF and the New York Film Festival before airing on HBO. The fourth film would focus on the manner in which the WM3 had to plead guilty in order to become free.

Here is what HBO documentary president Sheila Nevins, had to say about the case and the situation surrounding the recent release:

…there’s still an irony. Under the law, they’re now “innocent but guilty.” Guilty but innocent? What the hell is that all about? Don’t tell Joe but maybe there’s another film there. I think we’re ready for Paradise Lost 4. [...] If you’re guilty, how can you be innocent? Something’s wrong with the system. They have to be free because they are innocent. We have to prove that, and I don’t know how we do that. We’ll have to really work on that.

Here is what Berlinger had to say to IndieWire about the recent events:

If HBO thinks there is a film to be made, we will certainly keep that door open. Emotionally, however, it does feel like it’s the end of an era.

Lord of the Rings director Peter Jackson and his producing partner Fran Walsh also played a huge behind the scenes hand in helping these three guys prove their innocence and get released. Over the last seven years they have been funding the ongoing investigation efforts. According to Deadline, "This has included financing extensive private investigators over a number of years and the uncovering of crucial new DNA evidence. Jackson and Walsh also have been instrumental in hiring some of the country’s leading forensic experts to reevaluate the case and uncover new witnesses, all of which contributed to the Arkansas Supreme Court’s decision to reopen the case." Jackson and Walsh will now continue funding an investigation into the real killer(s) of the three boys whose deaths led to convictions of the West Memphis Three.

Here is what Jackson's manager, Ken Kamins told EW:

When Peter and Fran got involved, they had to decide how to best serve the case. [...] [they] decided to put their attention into funding and spearheading DNA work, hiring forensic and other experts, plus extensive private investigations into all aspects of the case. [...] This work is ongoing. Peter and Fran are heavily involved in ongoing investigations, and the release of the guys is far from the end of the story.

What are your thoughts on this news? Would you be interested in seeing a fourth film?