Clinton films axed after boycotts

Two television projects focused on Hillary Clinton got the axe after the programmes became embroiled in partisan wrangling, including threats by the Republican National Committee to boycott presidential debates sponsored by CNN and NBC.

The filmmaker for CNN said he could not complete the project because he had received no co-operation from either Democrats or Republicans, while industry sources said NBC’s move had nothing to do with the Republican National Committee, the Clintons, or NBC News, which is run separately from NBC’s entertainment unit.

Charles Ferguson, the filmmaker responsible for the CNN documentary, wrote a scathing online essay, saying that the Democrat’s camp froze him out and that Republicans had grumbled about meddling in the 2016 presidential race.

A CNN spokeswoman confirmed the film would be cancelled and said the decision was made by the filmmaker.

NBC, whose entertainment unit had been planning a dramatic four-hour mini-series starring Diane Lane as Clinton, said it was also abandoning the film.

“After reviewing and prioritising our slate of movie/mini-series development, we’ve decided that we will no longer continue developing the Hillary Clinton mini-series,” NBC said.

The mini-series had already lost a production partner when Fox Television Studios passed on working with NBC in August.

The Republican National Committee had threatened to boycott any 2016 presidential debates sponsored by CNN and NBC. Spokeswoman Kirsten Kukowski said the committee would no longer stage boycotts now both networks had cancelled their Clinton projects.

Clinton is expected to run for the 2016 Democratic presidential nomination. The former secretary of state has said she is still considering her options.