Amazon greenlights Lorena, a docuseries from Jordan Peele’s Monkeypaw

Last Updated on July 30, 2021

The tale of John and Lorena Bobbitt has served as a warning to men, and a delightful daydream for ladies since the year 1993. As the story goes: Lorena Bobbitt, who after being involved in a volatile relationship with her abusive husband John, chopped off his penis at its base while he was sleeping, went for a drive, then threw the genitalia out of the moving car window where it landed in a nearby field. In the wake of the incident, the sordid tale quickly became the focus of major news outlets as well as a victim of tabloid fodder. It took the surgeons nine hours to reattach Bobbitt's Little John, though the appendage is said to have never regained full sensation. What's the moral of this story, folks? First, treat your significant other with love and respect. Second, never say Lorena Bobbitt's name in the mirror three times before going to bed at night.

The reason I'm erecting this uncomfortable story is because today Amazon has given the greenlight to LORENA, a Prime Original series executive produced by Jordan Peele and produced by Monkeypaw and Sonar Entertainment. Set to be directed by esteemed documentary filmmaker Joshua Rofé (LOST FOR LIFE), LORENA will be presented as a four-part documentary series that reveals the hidden truths in the notorious case of John Wayne and Lorena Bobbitt and challenges the long-held narrative that surrounded this event. When it arrives, LORENA hopes to provide those still fascinated by the case with a fresh perspective on the story of Lorena Bobbitt and how one event laid the groundwork for the modern 24-hour news cycle and increasing sensationalistic media coverage.

Additionally, LORENA also looks to shed light on the darker aspects of the world-famous case, by re-investigating the deep moral issues and painful human tragedies buried at the heart of the infamous American scandal. Lost in the tabloid coverage and jokes was the opportunity for a national discussion on domestic and sexual assault in America that was never had, thanks in-part to the way the story had become twisted by insensitive and damaging media coverage.

“Jordan has proven himself as a captivating voice of social critique and we are excited to work with him on this project. Lorena reframes Lorena Bobbitt’s story around issues of sexism and domestic abuse and offers Prime members an exclusive new view into how America got her story wrong and maybe continues to get it wrong,” said Heather Schuster, Head of Unscripted, Amazon Originals.

“Our hope for this series is to give viewers pause when the next scandal of the moment is presented to us as macabre entertainment. Often, there’s profound pain and trauma just beneath the surface of stories like Lorena’s,” explains Rofé.

“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. 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,” said Monkeypaw’s Peele.

LORENA looks to re-open old wounds when the docuseries arrives on Amazon Prime, just in time for the case's 25th anniversary.