Jordan Peele's Lorena Bobbitt documentary for Amazon gets a trailer, release date

It was last April when we learned Oscar-winning Get Out director Jordan Peele and his Monkeypaw imprint were teaming with Amazon Studios for a docuseries about Lorena Bobbitt, the woman who made national headlines for cutting off her husband’s penis in the early ‘90s. “When we hear the name ‘Bobbitt’ we think of one of the most sensational incidents to ever be catapulted into a full blown media spectacle,” Peele said. “With this project, Lorena has a platform to tell her truth as well as engage in a critical conversation about gender dynamics, abuse, and her demand for justice. This is Lorena’s story, and we’re honored to help her tell it.”

It’s true that if you look past the “malicious wounding” you’ll find a vital story about domestic and sexual assault, one that was virtually ignored by the majority of the public in favor of cheap gags and moral pontificating. The climate is changing, however, and a recent 20/20 documentary on the case, The Bobbitts: Love Hurts, took pains to explore the societal response to Lorena’s claims of physical and sexual abuse. Now, Joshua Rofé’s four-part docuseries will dig deeper, exploring that perspective via interviews with both Lorena and her ex-husband, John, who used his time in the spotlight to pivot to a stint in pornography. A press release notes that the series will also show how the event “laid the groundwork for the modern 24-hour news cycle and increasing sensationalistic media coverage.”

Lorena premieres on February 15. Watch a trailer for the series below.