The Gabby Petito Story Lifetime release date, synopsis, trailer, and more

Almost one year ago, the real-life disappearance of 22-year-old Gabby Petito made headlines and sparked a nationwide search for the travel blogger. Now, Lifetime has a movie about the incident, The Gabby Petito Story, coming out this fall.

Petito went on a cross country trip with her fiancé Brian Laundrie, but was reported missing by her parents in September 2021. The trip was supposed to last four months, beginning on July 2, 2021, but she disappeared in late August. Her body was eventually discovered in Wyoming. She passed away due to manual strangulation. Laundrie admitted to killing Petito in his notebook, which was found near his remains after he shot himself.

The film is written by Gregory Small and Richard Blaney, and actress Thora Birch makes her directorial debut. She will also play Gabby’s mom, Nichole. The movie is part of Lifetime’s “Stop Violence Against Women” public affairs initiative. The network is partnered with the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence organization.

Here’s what we know about the upcoming production.

Lifetime’s The Gabby Petito Story release date

The Gabby Petito Story will air Saturday, Oct. 1 at 8 p.m. ET on Lifetime.

Lifetime’s The Gabby Petito Story synopsis

The film will explore Gabby and her fiancé Brian’s complicated relationship and what may have gone wrong during their cross-country trip that resulted in Gabby’s murder.

The movie will portray their “doomed” love story, the warning signs that Gabby’s life was in danger, the search for her, the eventual discovery of her body, and Brian’s suicide.

In real life, the case gained so much attention due to the combination of the couple’s social media activity, police body camera video footage, 911 emergency call recordings, and eyewitness accounts.

Lifetime’s The Gabby Petito Story cast

• Skyler Samuels as Gabby Petito
• Evan Hall as Brian Laundrie
• Thora Birch as Gabby’s mom, Nichole Schmidt.

Lifetime’s The Gabby Petito Story trailer

Lifetime’s The Gabby Petito Story photos

The Gabby Petito documentary

Following the premiere of the movie, Lifetime will also air a one-hour documentary. Beyond the Headlines: Gabby Petito will chronicle the road trip through the lens of Gabby’s social media. The  will film will also include interviews with people who knew her best, and a community of online strangers who banded together to solve the homicide. The documentary will air at 10 p.m. ET.

The Gabby Petito Story airs Saturday, Oct. 1 at 8 p.m. ET on Lifetime.