The series will be based on Brown’s book of the same name, “Perversion of Justice: The Jeffrey Epstein Story.”

Laura Dern to star in Jeffrey Epstein TV series as investigative journalist Julie K. Brown

The series will be based on Brown's book of the same name, "Perversion of Justice: The Jeffrey Epstein Story."

By Marina Watts

Marina Watts

Marina Watts is a news writer for with seven years experience covering entertainment, pop culture and celebrity news. Her previous work appears in PEOPLE, Bustle and Newsweek.

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March 30, 2026 2:36 p.m. ET

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Laura Dern; Journalist Julie K. Brown. Credit:

- Laura Dern's next project will be portraying the award-winning journalist Julie K. Brown following her investigation into Jeffrey Epstein.

- The limited* *series, *Perversion of Justice: The Jeffrey Epstein Story,* will be based on the 2021 book of the same name.

- The show will be the first scripted series about Epstein's crimes.

Laura Dern will star in Sony Pictures Television's upcoming limited series about the investigation into Jeffrey Epstein.

*Perversion of Justice: The Jeffrey Epstein Story* is based on the 2021 book of the same name by award-winning investigative journalist Julie K. Brown. The Academy Award winner will star as Brown.

Per *Variety*, the show will depict “an explosive account of an investigative reporter exposing the secret plea deal between Epstein and federal prosecutors. Drawing from Brown’s experience as a groundbreaking reporter for the *Miami Herald*, the book and the limited series follow her relentless years-long investigation that identified 80 victims, persuaded key survivors to go on the record, and led to Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell’s arrests.”

Brown took to social media amid the announcement, writing: "Some personal news."

Laura Dern in January 2026.

Maarten De Boer/Getty

This will be the first scripted series about the Epstein case. There have several documentaries on the subject including Netflix's *Jeffrey Epstein: Filthy Rich* and Lifetime's *Surviving Jeffrey Epstein*.

The book *Perversion of Justice: The Jeffrey Epstein Story *builds on Brown's years of reporting for the *Miami Herald *about Epstein, taking a closer look at his global sex trafficking scheme and the many people affected by his actions.

In 2008, after police investigated allegations of prostitution made against Epstein, he pleaded guilty to one count of soliciting prostitution and one count of soliciting prostitution from someone under the age of 18. Through a secret plea deal with then-South Florida U.S. Attorney Alexander Acosta, Epstein avoided federal charges and served only one year in jail of his 18-month sentence.

Brown revisited the handling of his case by Acosta, who would go on to serve as President Trump's labor secretary. She interviewed dozens of victims and read throughout countless court documents and worked relentlessly to get the full picture of why Epstein was given leniency.**

'Jeffrey Epstein: Filthy Rich' director breaks silence on disturbing new revelations

Whoopi Goldberg calls out fellow women over Epstein abuse: 'We were complicit'

Brown's coverage sparked new interest in the case. Months after Brown's 2018 reporting series published, Epstein was arrested on sex trafficking charges by prosecutors of the Southern District of New York. A federal judge also ruled that the non-prosecution agreement set up for the disgraced financier was illegal. Days later, Acosta resigned from his role in Trump's administration.**

'Perversion of Justice: The Jeffrey Epstein Story' by Julie K. Brown.

***Get your daily dose of entertainment news, celebrity updates, and what to watch with our EW Dispatch newsletter.***

Epstein died by suicide in 2019 at 66 while awaiting trial for sex trafficking charges at the Metropolitan Correctional Center.

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