"American Dresser" actress Penelope Ann Miller is in negotiations to star in Lifetime's "Prison Break: The Joyce Mitchell Story" movie based on the infamous 2015 New York Prison Break. She is heading to the network's latest ripped-from-the-headlines TV movie.
Miller will play the married mother of three, Joyce Mitchell, in the "Prison Break: The Joyce Mitchell Story," Deadline reported. Her character met Matt (Myk Watford) and Sweat (Joe Anderson) while running the tailor shop at the Clinton Correctional Facility.
In the plot of "Prison Break: The Joyce Mitchell Story," in real life, the cons seduced Mitchell, and thinking the men were in love with her, Mitchell agreed to help them break out, supplying tools and agreeing to pick them up on the outside after the escape. Part of the plan was to kill her husband, so they can run away together to Mexico.
However, at the last second, Miller decided that she could not go through the plot and did not show up at the pickup point. She later was convicted of promoting prison contraband and criminal facilitation and was sentenced to seven years in prison.
"Prison Break: The Joyce Mitchell Story" is inspired by the infamous 2015 jailbreak in upstate New York pulled off by convicted murderers Richard Matt and David Sweat that launched a 21-day manhunt for the pair. The statewide search captivated the cable news networks; Matt was found and killed in the attempt to apprehend him, and Sweat eventually was found and taken into custody.
"Prison Break: The Joyce Mitchell Story" is written and directed by Stephen Tolkin. It is produced by Mountainair Films alongside Judith Verno and Frank Von Zerneck executive producing. David Manzanares co-produces and Ron Schmidt is the line producer.
According to The Hollywood Reporter, Miller has been recently tapped to co-star in the ABC's Reese Witherspoon-produced drama pilot. She currently appeared on anthology "American Crime" and has had a recurring role on the summer series "Mistresses."
Miller is represented by APA and Untitled and earned a supporting actress Golden Globe nomination in "Carlito's Way." She most recently starred in Sundance hit period drama "The Birth of a Nation," opposite Nate Parker, Armie Hammer, and Gabrielle Union. Her other TV credit is "Men of a Certain Age."
A 2017 premiere is planned for "Prison Break: The Joyce Mitchell Story."
Watch the video of New York Prison Break worker Joyce Mitchell gave the murderers tool to escape:
