Aubrey Plaza is set to take on the lead role and serve as producer in the new dark comedy biopic The Heidi Fleiss Story, which will chronicle the notorious rise and downfall of the so-called "Hollywood madam" who dominated the tabloid headlines in the early 1990s.
The film will mark the feature directorial debut of Leah Rachel, known for creating Netflix’s Chambers. The screenplay was crafted by Rachel Sennott, noted for her work in Bottoms, together with Rachel and Travis Jackson, promising an edgy and comedic lens on the notorious media storm that surrounded Fleiss’s empire.
Set in Los Angeles, the narrative follows Fleiss through the tense, chaotic days preceding her arrest in 1993, as she manoeuvres through Hollywood’s elite circles. Fleiss uses blackmail, manipulation, and her complex web of connections in a desperate attempt to escape mounting legal jeopardy, assisted by Jaclyn, a young writer ambitious to make her mark.
The intrigue and power dynamics behind the secretive network that supposedly catered to celebrities, politicians and LA’s most influential names is set to be explored in the film. Fleiss’ multimillion dollar business came crashing down when she was charged with pandering, tax evasion and money laundering. She has reportedly inherited her business from “Madam Alex”, her mentor.
The Heidi Fleiss Story is expected to shine a light not just on Fleiss’s criminal enterprise but also on the “final days leading up to Fleiss’ 1993 arrest, when authorities exposed her high-end prostitution ring operating in Los Angeles”. The fallout from this case, shrouded with rumours and a still-sealed client list, captivated national attention and remains a source of fascination more than three decades later.
Plaza leads the production through her company Evil Hag, joining forces with Jessamine Burgum and Kara Durrett of Pinky Promise, the team behind The Last Showgirl. Filming is slated to begin in Los Angeles later this year.
This role marks a significant return for Plaza, following acclaimed turns in projects like Ethan Coen's Honey Don't!, Francis Ford Coppola’s Megalopolis, and The White Lotus Season 2. She’ll also appear in the upcoming indie drama The Accompanist opposite Susan Sarandon and is currently involved in multiple projects across film and television.
