Lifetime’s College Admissions Scandal Trailer Is Here and It’s Even Better Than We Imagined
@Rose Minutaglio
In July, Lifetime revealed it was producing a 2-hour telepic (premiering October 12) based on the high-profile college admissions scandal involving rich and famous parents like Lori Loughlin and Felicity Huffman.
The network’s trailer for The College Admissions Scandal has officially dropped and, just wow. Though touted as a film “based on true events” and a “ripped from the headlines feature,” it clearly parallels the real-life, high profile scandal dubbed “Operation Varsity Blues,” which implicated dozens of wealthy families across the country. Sadly, however, neither Loughlin nor Huffman will portray themselves.
Huffman has been laying low since pleading guilty for her involvement in the scheme, and Loughlin (who pleaded not guilty) has made several appearances in court so far. Her next court date for a status conference is scheduled for October 2.
Instead, the movie stars Penelope Ann Miller (Riverdale) and Mia Kirshner (Star Trek: Discovery) as two moms desperate to get their teenaged kids into the best possible colleges.
According to People:
Miller’s character Caroline vows she’ll “do anything” for her son, who she claims is “losing his way”—and she eventually pays to alter his SAT scores. Her story appears to be inspired by actress Felicity Huffman, who was arrested and charged for paying $15,000 to facilitate cheating on her daughter’s SAT test by having a proctor correct her answers. She pleaded guilty in May to conspiracy to commit mail fraud and honest services mail fraud.
Kirshner’s character Bethany, meanwhile, pays half a million dollars to get her daughter onto a prestigious university’s athletic team, even staging a full-blown photoshoot to make her look like a soccer player at one point in the trailer. Her story is apparently inspired by actress Lori Loughlin, who along with her husband Mossimo Giannulli stands accused of paying $500,000 to have their two daughters designated as recruits to the USC crew team — despite the fact that they did not participate in crew.
Lifetime isn’t the only television company bringing the scandal to the silver screen. According The Hollywood Reporter, Annapurna TV is working on a miniseries treatment of the events.
