Based on Baltimore author and former Baltimore Sun reporter Laura Lippman’s novel of the same name, the “Lady in the Lake” limited series will release on Apple TV+ on July 19.
The series is set in 1960s Baltimore, where housewife-turned-newspaper-journalist Maddie Schwartz (played by Natalie Portman) investigates two separate killings: 11-year-old girl Tessie Fine, and Black bartender and mother Cleo Sherwood (played by Baltimore native Moses Ingram).
The story is inspired by two real-life deaths that occurred in Baltimore in 1969: 11-year-old Esther Lebowitz, and 33-year-old Shirley Lee Wigeon Parker, the latter of whom was found in the fountain at the center of Druid Park Lake.
Filming of the series generated more than $100 million during its production in Maryland, Gov. Wes Moore announced Tuesday.
Among its impact, the production created 1,132 Maryland jobs; supported 2,456 local businesses; and paid for more than 32,000 hotel room nights, according to a news release.
“Our administration is unafraid to make big bets on the industries we can lead in – and that includes the world of entertainment,” Moore said in a statement. “By asserting Maryland’s leadership in television, we will create jobs, drive growth, and unleash our state’s full potential. We’re very thankful for Apple’s and Fifth Season’s investment in Maryland, and we hope to continue this fruitful relationship for years to come.”
The production used the Maryland Film Production Activity Tax Credit, which incentivizes productions to film in the state and gives refundable tax credits for certain costs during filming.
“I want to thank Apple and Fifth Season, our team at the Maryland Film Office, and our partners at the Baltimore Film Office for all their hard work during this production. That time and dedication has resulted in an impressive investment in our state,” said Maryland Department of Commerce Secretary Kevin Anderson in a statement. “We look forward to seeing the final product when it hits streaming services next week.”
The series’ production team started scouting Baltimore for filming locations in November 2021. They began shooting the series in May 2022 and filmed throughout the region for three and a half months.
“Baltimore is one of the best cities to film in,” said Baltimore Film Office Director Debbie Donaldson Dorsey in a statement. “Our crew, actors, city agencies, and local businesses all contributed to Lady in the Lake, and we are looking forward to seeing 1960s Baltimore in this new limited series.”
“Lady in the Lake” was executive produced, written and directed by Alma Har’el with her producing partner Christopher Leggett.
Television studio Fifth Season produced the series with Crazyrose and Bad Wolf.
Executive producers also included Portman, alongside producing partner Sophie Mas; Crazyrose principal Nathan Ross and the late Jean-Marc Vallée; Julie Gardner for Bad Wolf America; Layne Eskridge; Amy Kaufman; Boaz Yakin; and Lippmann.
