A juicy new documentary about the life and public battles of late real estate mogul Leona Helmsley is currently in production, Variety has learned exclusively. The film will contain never-before-heard tapes of Helmsley and her archrival Donald Trump, as well as “smoking gun” evidence that will question the tax evasion case brought on her by Rudy Giuliani in 1988.
Helmsley was an icon of the “greed is good” era, an owner of luxury hotels and condominiums who left behind a $5 billion estate (which famously included a $12 million trust fund for her dog, a Maltese). Branded the “Queen of Mean” by the New York tabloids for her acid tongue and regal air, she was a bitter rival of Trump — who once called her “a disgrace to the industry and a disgrace to humanity in general.” Of Trump, Helmsley once reportedly said: “I wouldn’t trust him if his tongue was notarized.”
Trump notoriously tried to snatch the crown jewel of Helmsley’s property portfolio, the Empire State building.
Indie studio Gunpowder & Sky has boarded the project from Filmbank’s Keith Robert Patterson (HBO’s “All About Ann”), who will direct and produce. Former head of development at Wavelength, Serena Turner, and Emil Pinnock are also producers. The trio has additionally optioned Mitchell Pacelle’s book “Empire: A Tale of Obsession, Betrayal and the Battle for an American Icon,” for a scripted adaptation that Patterson is also writing and producing. Joanna Zwickel, senior vice president of documentary features and series, is overseeing for Gunpowder & Sky.
The project will explore Helmsley’s journey from the “belle of New York society to pariah overnight,” filmmakers said, after she was indicted for tax evasion. The case was sparked after allegations she and husband Harry allegedly used millions from their business to renovate their Greenwich, Connecticut, mansion.
“From day one, Leona Helmsley alleged that she and husband Harry were framed and that her prosecution was thrown. It’s taken 30 years to uncover the exclusive tapes, evidence, and participation from those willing to come to her defense,” said director Patterson. “And now, through recently unearthed exclusive audio and interviews, Leona will finally be able to mount a real defense.”
Zwickel said Helmsley was “one of the first public figures to ever be canceled — she and her husband Harry were New York royalty and literally overnight she became known as the ‘Queen of Mean’. We are thrilled to be partnered with Filmbank, Keith Robert Patterson and Serena Turner on this film that will finally reveal if Leona was mean, a misunderstood genius, falsely maligned by Donald and the legal system — or all of the above. This doc will expose it all.”
Filmbank, an Unconditional Content company, is currently in development on a television series based on the hit haunted house video game “The 7th Guest.” The scripted Helmsley project will also be produced by Pinnock and Entertainment 360’s Jenna Sarkin.
(Excerpt) Read more in: Variety