While Dr. Conrad Murray stands trial for the involuntary manslaughter of Michael Jackson, he’s been quietly filming a blockbuster documentary that’s being shopped to major TV networks.
Sources say Murray, who announced yesterday that he will not testify in his defense, has sold the rights “to his story” to a production company that’s been filming interviews with him daily as the trial progresses.
The unidentified production company is shopping the documentary as a package deal that would also include a video diary and a sit-down interview with Murray.
“A news division that pays for the documentary will end up with a side deal of getting the sit-down with Conrad,” a source said. “It’s crafted in such a way for a news division that doesn’t pay for interviews.”
We hear the production outfit has been aiming to sell the documentary for $1 million. It is not clear how much would go to Murray.
“They have already filmed a long interview in case he’s taken into custody,” a source told Page Six.
CNN was interested in buying the footage, one source said, but a CNN rep told us last night that although they were pitched on it, they declined. “We are not considering, we passed on it,” a network rep told us.
Other sources say NBC is close to securing the deal, possibly for the “Today” show.”
“I question whether there is enough interest in him,” a competitor mused. “It’s more interesting if he’s found not guilty.”
Murray could face up to four years in prison and lose his medical license if he’s convicted of being criminally negligent in administering the anesthetic propofol before Jackson died on June 25, 2009. Tomorrow, both sides are expected to present closing arguments.
A spokesperson for Murray’s lawyer, J. Michael Flanagan, declined to comment, citing a gag order on the case. NBC also declined to comment.