by WILL FOLKS
***
Members of the prosecutorial team re-trying accused killer Alex Murdaugh have participated in discussions with documentary filmmakers regarding productions tied to his upcoming retrial, sources familiar with the situation have confirmed to FITSNews. In fact, some members of the prosecution team have allegedly gone so far as to provide exclusive materials for use in what industry insiders refer to as “sizzle reels” ahead of Murdaugh’s April 2027 retrial, these sources have confirmed.
A “sizzle reel” – or “show reel” – refers to a short, promotional video (complete with music and graphics) intended to generate interest in a forthcoming production. It takes its name from 20th century sales guru Elmer Wheeler, a.k.a. “Mr. Sizzle,” who famously implored his acolytes to “sell the sizzle, not the steak.”
In this case, the “sizzle” reportedly features private footage of several key members of the Murdaugh prosecution team packaged as part of an exclusive “behind the scenes” look at the upcoming retrial of the state of South Carolina’s most notorious accused murderer. Multiple members of the prosecution team – including state grand jury chief and lead prosecutor Creighton Waters – have been linked to various productions, although it is not immediately clear whether any agreements between prosecutors and filmmakers have been finalized.
Waters’ top paralegal, Carly Jewell, is also depicted in several of these “sizzle reels.” Several sources who have viewed the clips of Jewell described her appearance in them as “provocative” and “risqué” – indicating she may have filmed some of the segments in various states of undress.
***
***
The existence of these “sizzle reels” was first reported late Monday (November 9, 2026) by Richmond, Virginia author Eliza Broadbent – who cited rumors of the prosecution providing an unnamed documentary film company with “exclusive, behind-the-scenes access to the retrial, including trial prep.”
Sources close to the situation told FITSNews multiple companies were actually vying for the “rights” to exclusive trial access to prosecutors and their key staff.
To recap: Murdaugh was convicted of the June 7, 2021 murders of his wife, 52-year-old Maggie Murdaugh, and younger son, 22-year-old Paul Murdaugh, and sentenced to life in prison following a six-week trial in Walterboro, S.C. in early 2023. Those convictions were reversed in May of this year, however, after the S.C. supreme court found numerous issues with the conduct of the trial – including allegations of jury tampering and potential jury rigging.
A fourth-generation scion of one of the Palmetto State’s most influential legal and political dynasties, Murdaugh was a prominent attorney and assistant solicitor in the South Carolina Lowcountry. He was also a former president of the state’s powerful trial lawyer lobby.
Murdaugh’s retrial is scheduled to begin April 5, 2027, in Sumter County, with S.C. circuit court judge Debra McCaslin presiding. McCaslin, incidentally, has made it abundantly clear she will not tolerate attorneys leveraging this case for their own notoriety.
***
“I will not allow these proceedings to become a circus, and I will not permit anyone involved in this case to use this courtroom as a platform for publicity or theatrics,” McCaslin said at a hearing last month.
While those remarks appeared to have been initially directed at defense attorneys, the existence of these promotional materials could cast them in a new and unflattering light for the prosecution.
In addition to the videos – which were reportedly posted online in a publicly available format – multiple members of the prosecution were listed in an accompanying document as “participants” in at least one of the envisioned upcoming productions. FITSNews has not been provided with copies of any of the video files that were posted online – or the accompanying document, which was described to us as a “pitch deck.” We have, however, spoken with multiple sources who have seen the clips and reviewed the pitch deck document.
We were also informed members of Murdaugh’s defense team had been provided with the links by a source close to the attorney general’s office.
***
RELATED | MURDAUGH RETRIAL
***
Multiple calls to lead Murdaugh attorney Dick Harpootlian seeking a copy of the videos – or confirmation of their existence – did not yield substantive replies. Similarly, calls to the attorney general’s office did not yield an immediate response.
Attorney general spokesman Robert Kittle did respond to Broadbent’s story, however.
“We’re not promoting a behind-the-scenes documentary,” Kittle told Broadbent. “It would go against ethics.”
Obviously in the event we receive the materials in question we will provide our audience with that information so that they can judge it for themselves. Also, in the event updated information from either the attorney general’s office or Murdaugh’s defense is provided, we will share that as well.
Prosecutors and defense attorneys will gather in Lexington, S.C. this Friday (November 13, 2026) for a pretrial hearing related to the defense’s motion to dismiss the murder indictments against Murdaugh owing to alleged investigative and prosecutorial misconduct.
FITSNews will be live-streaming that hearing…
***
ABOUT THE AUTHOR…
Will Folks is the founding editor of the news outlet you are currently reading. Prior to founding FITSNews, he served as press secretary to the governor of South Carolina. He lives in the Midlands region of the state with his wife and eight children.
***
SOUND OFF…
Got something you’d like to say in response to one of our articles? Or an issue you’d like to address proactively? We have an open microphone policy! Submit your letter to the editor (or guest column) via email HERE. Got a tip for a story? CLICK HERE. Got a technical question or a glitch to report? CLICK HERE.
