DISCOVERY+ GREENLIGHTS LIGHTBOX’S “CURSE OF THE CHIPPENDALES”

Discovery+ has greenlit Ligthbox’s “Curse of the Chippendales.” “In many ways the Chippendales came to define the 80s, unleashing the public expression of female sexual empowerment and commodifying it into big business, while at the same time defining ideas of modern masculinity,”  Suzanne Lavery, SVP, Unscripted, Lightbox and Executive Producer of the series, said. 

“Curse of the Chippendales” is a Lightbox production for discovery+.  It is directed by Jesse Vile, produced by Suzette Styler and the Executive Producers include Simon Chinn and Jonathan Chinn. Endeavor Content is distributing the series internationally.  “What’s less well known is the incredible and shocking true crime plot that lurked at the show's heart at the very height of its success," Lavery said. "Curse of the Chippendales' reveals the unexpected story behind a world-famous brand, all underpinned by a brilliant soundtrack.”

The four-part series shows The Chippendales achieved a coveted and rare goal: becoming an iconic, household name around the world. Their trademark style of barely-there costumes briefly sported by perfectly-chiseled men would be forever recognized, often emulated, and famously parodied. Their brand became a multi-million-dollar global venture, successful beyond their wildest dreams. But of three unlikely dreamers who were there at the beginning, only one would make it out alive. “The Chippendales are cultural icons, but there are many scandalous stories hidden underneath those scantily clad lads that will leave even the most seasoned true crime viewer shocked,” said Lisa Holme, Group SVP Content and Commercial Strategy, DTC.

With exclusive access to a cast of characters including Michael Rapp, the ‘Perfect Man’, and original line-up dancers, Bruce Nahin, the club’s ever-busy lawyer and key investigators, “Curse of the Chippendales” tells the story of how a new kind of dance troupe took the LA nightclub scene by storm and ended up with international fame and untold wealth, along with bizarre murder plots and multiple deaths entwined in their legacy. Driven by extensive video and photo archive, including never-before-seen footage and a nostalgia-filled soundtrack, viewers will be directly transported back to the 1980s. “Curse of the Chippendales” begins as a celebration of a cultural phenomenon but quickly reveals a jaw dropping true crime story, as high octane and over the top as the show itself.  “Through their impeccable storytelling, Lightbox transports viewers back to the 1980s to tell a story that perfectly captures the zeitgeist of the era, and reveals the dark side of a risqué world,” Holme said.