Mena Suvari ("American Beauty") and Matthew Modine ("Weeds") are set to star in the Lifetime Original Movie "Sex & Lies in Sin City" (working title), based on the true story of the death of wealthy Las Vegas casino heir Ted Binion and the ensuing trial of his lover and her con artist boyfriend. The movie is based on the book Murder in Sin City by Jeff German. "Sex & Lies in Sin City," produced by The Konigsberg Company and Sony Pictures Television for Lifetime Television, will premiere on Lifetime in September.
"Much like a trip to Vegas, this movie is a guilty pleasure," said Tanya Lopez, senior vice president, Original Movies, Lifetime Networks, in making the announcement. "Ripped from the headlines, Sex & Lies in Sin City captures all of the true crime story elements and the madness that surrounded Ted Binions life."
"We are thrilled to be working with director Peter Medak on this fascinating true story of sex, drugs and an untimely death all with exciting Las Vegas as our backdrop," said Helen Verno, executive vice president, movies and miniseries, Sony Pictures Television.
"Sex & Lies in Sin City" tells the story of the death of reckless casino executive Ted Binion (Modine), heir to the Binion Horseshoe Casino fortune. In September, 1998, Binion was found dead in his Las Vegas home by his beautiful ex-stripper girlfriend Sandy Murphy (Suvari). On the surface, it appears Binion died of a self-induced drug overdose, as he regularly abused illicit drugs. However, questions arise when Teds younger estranged sister Becky Binion tells police she believes her brother was murdered. Meanwhile, police discover that Murphy, who met Binion after first coming to Las Vegas in search of a better life, was cheating on him and that 24 hours before his death, Binion had Murphy removed from his will. Also, within hours of the suspicious death, Murphys lover, Rick Tabish, was caught trying to steal Binions hidden silver bullion in the Nevada desert. Ultimately, a scandalous trial sheds light on the astonishing greed that culminated in the death of one of the Desert Oasis most notorious men. Lifetime can be seen on DIRECTV channel 252.
