HBO has confirmed that its starry telefilm “The Wizard of Lies” will debut on May 20, 11 days before the deadline for Emmy eligibility. Two-time Oscar champ Robert De Niro (“The Godfather, Part II”; “Raging Bull”) plays felonious financier Bernie Madoff and Golden Globe winner Michelle Pfeiffer (“The Fabulous Baker Boys”) is his wife Ruth.
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Oscar champ Barry Levinson (“Rain Man”) directed from a script by his son Sam Levinson as well as John Burnham Schwartz and Samuel Baum. The trio adapted Diana B. Henriques‘ book “The Wizard of Lies: Bernie Madoff and the Death of Trust” and also credit “Truth and Consequences” by Laurie Sandell for additional source material.
The story chronicles the unraveling of Madoff’s fortunes, both financial and personal, as his Ponzi scheme comes crashing down. His wife Ruth, as well as his sons, are forced to choose between loyalty to him and self-preservation as the investigators pursue the truth.
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Alessandro Nivola, Nathan Darrow, Kristen Connolly, Lily Rabe and Hank Azaria also star.
De Niro and Levinson are also credited as executive producers as are De Niro’s longtime business partner Jane Rosenthal as well as Berry Welsh and Tom Fontana.
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