Veteran media executive and the producer behind NBCSN’s ‘2 The Maxx’ and ‘Life Untamed: Colorado’ is adding another TV series to his growing resume this summer with the release of a new true-crime docu-series on Amazon Prime.
According to AdWeek, true crime is the fastest growing genre on Netflix, one possible landing spot for a second run of the new Leopardi-produced TV series. Netflix quarterly reports show more than 52 million viewers tuned in to watch Netflix’s true-crime docu-series ‘American Murder’ in just 28 days following the series release–its highest viewership numbers ever for a new series.
A veteran of cinematic, reality, and travel/adventure TV, Leopardi will tackle the fast-growing true crime genre as he shows versatility in his long-running TV career. The non-fiction seven-episode series follows the story of Dr. Robert Hetsler, a Jacksonville native whose rocketship to success was shattered by a tragic vehicle malfunction causing his Ford Roush Mustang to suddenly explode while he sat in the driver’s seat.
Leopardi will feature celebrity surgeon and head of Laryngectomy at Harvard University, Dr. Steven Zietel. Dr. Zietel performed a complex operation to restore Robert’s speech abilities, and his long list of clients includes Adelle, Lionel Ritchie, and other celebrities. The crew will travel to Massachusetts General Hospital, where they’ll meet with Dr. Zietel to discuss the unique circumstances of Dr. Hetslers case.
Along the way, viewers will hear from a host of experts on all sides of the investigation, including arson investigators, nurses, first responders, members of the community, and witnesses. Leopardi will follow Hetsler through his day-to-day routines as he learns about Hetslers past, present, and explores adapting to a new normal.
Leopardi is best known as a veteran TV voice and producer working on Suits, Hot In Cleveland, Rookie Blue, and Go On during his time with entertainment juggernaut William Morris Endeavor. No stranger to the media landscape, Leopardi founded Brand Brain Media in 2019 accelerating out of the COVID-19 pandemic to a valuation of more than $350Million.
Leopardi is a serial entrepreneur with numerous exits to his credit, including founding ISDN to IP bridging startup ISDN To-Go, ad agency The Micc Group, and most recently Brand Brain Media, a vertically integrated media empire.
Look for his latest true-crime production coming to Amazon Prime this summer.
