Bestselling crime author James Patterson and investigative journalist Vicky Ward are teaming up on a new book that dives into the killing of UnitedHealthcare chief executive Brian Thompson. The project, which still has no title or release date, also comes with Hollywood interest, as actor Dave Franco said he would be open to playing accused killer Luigi Mangione in a possible biopic.
The crime story centers on Mangione, 27, who is awaiting trial on federal charges including murder, using a weapon with a silencer, and two counts of stalking. The case has drawn renewed attention after Thompson was shot and killed in Manhattan on December 4 of last year. Prosecutors have indicated they intend to pursue the death penalty, with the U.S. attorney general Pam Bondi directing federal prosecutors to seek that punishment.
Patterson described the forthcoming book as “a story about the American Dream Gone Wrong,” adding that it traces one young man’s arc from an Ivy League graduate to a notorious accused killer and, some believe, a political martyr. Ward echoed the scope of the project, noting that it goes to the heart of social, cultural, and political divides in the United States. She emphasized the need to “open up” the complexities of the health-insurance industry through a crime that has captivated national attention.
Little, Brown will publish the book in the United States, the same imprint that released Patterson and Ward’s recent nonfiction hit about another sensational murder case, The Idaho Four.
Franco’s comments on Watch What Happens Live With Andy Cohen further pushed Mangione into the public eye. He said he hadn’t been approached about the role, but that he would be open to it if the right team came forward. The actor noted that more people in his life have reached out about this case than any other, leaving the door open for a potential adaptation.
In the wake of Thompson’s killing, Mangione’s social-media following surged, drawing both praise and criticism. Critics argue that online fandom can glamorize alleged wrongdoing. Observers pointed out how race can shape public perception in high-profile cases; one commentator suggested the narrative would have unfolded differently if Mangione were Black or Latino.
What to watch for as this project progresses:
– How the book balances investigative reporting with compelling storytelling while avoiding sensationalism.
– The ethical questions involved in transforming a real tragedy and ongoing legal proceedings into a literary work.
– The broader themes the authors plan to explore, including the impact of corporate power and systemic issues within the health-insurance industry.
– Whether the proposed biopic would offer a responsible portrayal of Mangione and the surrounding case, given the ongoing legal process.
Potential angles the book might explore include the tension between wealth, influence, and accountability in American society, as well as how media coverage and social media ecosystems shape public perception of crime and punishment.
In a broader sense, the collaboration signals renewed interest in true-crime narratives that interrogate contemporary power structures while reflecting on the social currents that propel such stories into the national spotlight. It also hints at a growing market for in-depth, investigative storytelling that pairs a celebrated novelist with a seasoned journalist to dissect a case at the intersection of crime, business, and politics.