Elle Fanning will portray Michelle Carter TV series on texting suicide case; starts March 29

NEW BEDFORD — The Michelle Carter manslaughter conviction in the texting suicide death of Mattapoisett resident Conrad Roy III will be told in another production. This time, on Hulu with Elle Fanning portraying Carter in "The Girl from Plainville."

According to a press release from Hulu, "The Girl from Plainville," due to be released this spring, is based on an Esquire magazine article of the same name by Jesse Barron. The limited series follows Carter's relationship with Roy, his death by suicide in 2014 and the criminal case against Carter that resulted in her 2017 manslaughter conviction.

In addition to Fanning, the series features Colton Ryan as Conrad Roy III; Chloe Sevigny as his mother, Lynn Roy; Norbert Leo Butz, as his father, Conrad Roy II; Cara Buono as Gail Carter and Kai Lennox as David Carter.

The Hulu series is the fifth time the texting suicide case has been told in a national production. Last September, Investigation Discovery released a two-hour special, "Michelle Carter: Love, Texts & Death."

Shocking case: 'Love, Texts & Death': New documentary explores Michelle Carter texting suicide case

In 2109, the case was highlighted in a Dateline episode, "Reckless" and HBO's two-part movie, "I Love You, Now Die," which delved into the prosecutor's portrayal of Carter as a manipulative woman who sought attention for herself after she coaxed Roy into killing himself.

A 2018 Lifetime movie, “Conrad & Michelle: If Words Could Kill,” examined Roy’s suicide, free speech and Carter’s legal culpability.

According to Standard Times reports, Roy’s body was found in his pickup truck in the Kmart parking lot off Route 6 in Fairhaven on July 13, 2014. Roy, who was 18, died of carbon monoxide poisoning.

Text messages between Michelle Carter and Conrad Roy III

The Bristol County District Attorney released the text messages between Carter and Roy

CARTER: So I guess you aren’t gonna do it then. All that for nothing. I’m just confused. Like you were so ready and determined.

CONRAD: I am gonna eventually. I really don’t know what I’m waiting for but I have everything lined up.

CARTER: No, you’re not, Conrad. Last night was it. You kept pushing it off and you say you’ll do it, but you never do. It’s always gonna be that way if you don’t take action. You’re just making it harder on yourself by pushing it off. You just have to do it. Do you want to do it now?

CONRAD: Is it too late? I don’t know. It’s already light outside. I’m gonna go back too sleep. Love you. I’ll text you tomorrow.

CARTER: No. It’s probably the best time now because everyone is sleeping. Just go somewhere in your truck and no one is really out there right now because it’s an awkward time. If you don’t do it now you’re never gonna do it, and you can say you’ll do it tomorrow, but you probably won’t. Tonight? Love you.

Released early for good behavior

Carter, a resident of Plainville who was 17 at the time of Roy III's death, was released early from the Bristol County House of Corrections in Jan. 2020, after serving most of her 15-month sentence. According to Associated Press reports, she was released early a little more than three months early for credits accrued for good behavior and attending jail programs.

How to watch 'The Girl from Plainville'

Rated: MA-13

Cast: Elle Fanning, Colton Ryan, Chloe Sevigny, Norbert Leo Butz, Peter Gerety, Cara Buono and Kelly AuCoin

Created by: Liz Hannah and Patrick MacManus

Where: Streaming on Hulu on March 29

Runtime: Roughly 7 hours over 8 episodes

This article originally appeared on Standard-Times: Elle Fanning will play Michelle Carter in The Girl from Plainville