Elizabeth Banks Cast as Karen Read in Limited Series: Report

Elizabeth Banks has been cast in the upcoming limited series as Karen Read, the central figure in a high-profile Massachusetts case that captured national attention. Not only will Banks star in the series, but she will also take on the role of executive director for the project. The series, which is a collaboration between Prime Video and Warner Bros Television, will be led by showrunner Justin Noble.

This new limited series is distinct from a previously reported project that involved Read and her defense attorney Alan Jackson providing exclusive access. That project was in development with LBI Entertainment, as reported by Variety and Deadline earlier this year.

Elizabeth Banks, a multi-talented actress, writer, producer, and director, is set to portray Karen Read. Born in Pittsfield, Massachusetts, Banks is a three-time Emmy nominee who received the Hasty Pudding Theatrical Woman of the Year honor at Harvard University in 2020.

The series will delve into the gripping story of Read, who was arrested in 2022 and charged in connection with the death of her boyfriend, Boston police officer John O’Keefe. Prosecutors alleged that Read struck and killed O’Keefe with her Lexus SUV after a night of heavy drinking, abandoning him in the snow outside a Canton residence. With Alan Jackson joining her defense team, Read’s attorneys worked to unveil a potential cover-up involving multiple individuals, including law enforcement.

After a mistrial in 2024 due to a hung jury, Read faced a second trial in June 2025. Ultimately, she was acquitted of the most serious charges, only being found guilty of operating under the influence and receiving a one-year probation sentence. The limited series promises to bring viewers a compelling and dramatic exploration of this real-life legal saga.