Discovery+ has greenlit Lightbox’s doc series Curse of the Chippendales.
The new four-part series “unveils an incredible true crime story, rooted in a decade with its own quintessential style and all fueled by one thing: greed.”
With exclusive access to a cast of characters including Michael Rapp, the ‘Perfect Man’, and original line-up dancers, Bruce Nahin, the club’s lawyer and key investigators, Curse of the Chippendales tells the story of how a new kind of dance troupe took the LA nightclub scene by storm and ended up with international fame and untold wealth, along with bizarre murder plots and multiple deaths entwined in their legacy. Driven by extensive video and photo archive, including never-before-seen footage and a nostalgia-filled soundtrack, Curse of the Chippendales begins as a celebration of a cultural phenomenon but quickly reveals a jaw dropping true crime story.
“The Chippendales are cultural icons, but there are many scandalous stories hidden underneath those scantily clad lads that will leave even the most seasoned true crime viewer shocked,” said Lisa Holme, Group SVP Content and Commercial Strategy, DTC. “Through their impeccable storytelling, Lightbox transports viewers back to the 1980s to tell a story that perfectly captures the zeitgeist of the era, and reveals the dark side of a risqué world.”
Suzanne Lavery, SVP, Unscripted, Lightbox and Executive Producer of the series, added: “In many ways the Chippendales came to define the 80s, unleashing the public expression of female sexual empowerment and commodifying it into big business, while at the same time defining ideas of modern masculinity. What’s less well known is the incredible and shocking true crime plot that lurked at the show’s heart at the very height of its success. Curse of the Chippendales reveals the unexpected story behind a world-famous brand, all underpinned by a brilliant soundtrack.”
Curse of the Chippendales (4×60’) is a Lightbox production for discovery+. It is directed by Jesse Vile, produced by Suzette Styler and the Executive Producers are Suzanne Lavery, Simon Chinn and Jonathan Chinn.
Endeavor Content is distributing the series internationally.
Jon Creamer
Share this story
