Shonda Rhimes sets Netflix series on fake heiress

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Netflix and Shondaland have acquired the rights to the viral New York Magazine article “How Anna Delvey Tricked New York’s Party People” by Jessica Pressler.

 

“Grey’s Anatomy” and “Scandal” creator Shonda Rhimes is attached to write the series adaptation — the first project to be announced under the blockbuster overall deal she inked at Netflix last August, leaving her longtime home, ABC Studios. It also would mark the first series Rhimes has created since “Scandal.” The last few series from Shondaland, the company Rhimes runs with Betsy Beers, have come from other creators.

 

Since coming out on May 28, Pressler’s story has become an instant hot commodity, with about a dozen producers pursuing it for a screen adaptation, both in TV and features. Deadline hears that Netflix stepped up in a big way, and Rhimes’ commitment to do the adaptation as her first series for the streaming platform further tipped the scales.

 

The article chronicles the incredible rise and fall of now-infamous Anna Delvey (real name Anna Sorokin) who, through web of lies, scammed her way into becoming an “It” girl on the New York social scene and nearly launched a Soho House–type club. She had an unwitting partner in crime, luring former 11 Howard concierge Neffatari “Neff” Davis into her schemes.

 

Last October, Sorokin, who had claimed to be a wealthy German heiress, was accused of instead being a con artist who had scammed money from banks, businesses and friends. She was charged with multiple counts of grand larceny and theft of services and is being held without bond on Rikers Island. She has pleaded not guilty.

 

Since moving to Netflix last August, Rhimes had been quietly acquiring IP, meeting with writers and developing ideas for potential series. She is in the first year of a five-year deal that, in success, could bring her $300 million or more.

 

Pressler was repped in the deal by Gersh. Rhimes is repped by ICM Partners and attorney Michael Gendler.

Judge rips fake heiress, says she’s too focused on movie deal

 

Her story impressed Netflix execs — but not a Manhattan judge.

 

A fake socialite who swindled thousands of dollars from banks, businesses and wealthy pals — and earned herself a Netflix series for it — was ripped in court Tuesday for her lack of regret.

 

“I see no remorse,” Justice Diane Kiesel told Anna Sorokin, 27, who sauntered into court wearing black-rimmed glasses, a makeshift white headband and a prison-issue sweatsuit.

 

“She seems more concerned about who is going to play her in the movie than what she’s done to the people she allegedly took advantage of,” said Kiesel in Manhattan Supreme Court.

 

Sorokin, who goes by the alias Anna Delvey, pursed her lips in court as photographers snapped her picture.

 

The judge refused to come down from the prosecutor’s offer of three to nine years in prison, calling the defense lawyer’s request for one to three years “a mere slap on the wrist for a crime this serious.”

 

Attorney Todd Spodek filed a lengthy memorandum arguing for leniency.

 

Netflix just inked a deal to acquire the rights to Sorokin’s story that was featured in New York magazine’s article “How Anna Delvey Tricked New York’s Party People.” Sorokin’s arrest was first reported by The Post.

 

“Scandal” creator Shonda Rhimes has been tapped to write the series.

 

Sorokin allegedly posed as a German heiress with a $60 million fortune, scamming her way into the New York social scene and bilking $270,000 from a string of victims.

 

She invited a pal on an all-expenses-paid trip to Marrakech and used a debit card she knew would be declined.

 

She then asked the friend to pay the $62,000 bill for the luxury villa — which included a personal butler and a private pool — and allegedly promised to reimburse her. She didn’t.

 

The blue-eyed German national also allegedly failed to pay for a private plane she chartered to Omaha, Neb., for a Berkshire Hathaway annual shareholders meeting.

 

In yet another scheme, Sorokin is accused of trying to obtain a $22 million loan from two banks to open a private nightclub. While she was busy trying to realize her business venture, she stayed at swanky Manhattan hotels and allegedly skipped out on the bills.

 

It turns out the social grifter, whose father is a truck driver, doesn’t have a cent to her name, according to prosecutor Catherine McCaw.

 

Sorokin, who’s charged with grand larceny, theft of services and other raps, faces up to 15 years in prison.

 

Fake heiress even ripped off law firms for over $250K: court docs

 

The socialite grifter who posed as a German heiress to scam banks and friends out of thousands of dollars also ripped off several white-shoe law firms, court papers say.

 

Anna Sorokin, whose alias is Anna Delvey, isn’t charged over the $250,000 in unpaid legal fees she allegedly owes Gibson Dunn & Crutcher LLC, Perkins Coie LLC and Lowenstein Sandler LLC.

 

But prosecutors had asked a judge to allow into evidence the unpaid legal tab to show motive and intent in her scamster case.

 

In the end, though, Sorokin’s lawyer, Todd Spodek, successfully argued that his client’s legal bills were too prejudicial, leading Judge Diane Kiesel to recently bar the testimony from trial.

 

In a filing, Assistant DA Catherine McCaw had said Sorokin racked up $160,000 in fees at Perkins Coie in connection with her attempt to rent 281 Park Avenue South, where she planned to open an arts club.

 

The deal for the commercial space fell through after Sorokin, 28, allegedly sent the real-estate agent a suspicious-looking screenshot showing a $20 million bank balance.

 

McCaw said the account was closed months earlier and actually had a negative $2,000 balance.

 

Sorokin also failed to pay Gibson Dunn $65,000 after a partner represented her in a failed $22 million bank-loan application, billing her $1,000 an hour, documents say. She is charged for filing fraudulent paperwork to try to obtain the loan. She racked up another $30,000 at Lowenstein Sandler LLC.

 

Jurors will hear that Sorokin allegedly Googled the phrases “faking bank statements,” “generate fake credit score report” and “faking bank statements [sic] penalties,” according to the judge’s ruling.

 

Jury selection began Wednesday afternoon in Manhattan Supreme Court in the case against the faux heiress, who allegedly tricked New York’s elite out of cash and goods.

 

The Post reported that she even allegedly scammed the ultimate con man, Fyre Festival organizer Billy McFarland.

 

The Russia-born Sorokin, whose father is a truck driver, is facing charges of grand larceny, attempted grand larceny and theft of services. She has pleaded not guilty.

 

Both Netflix and HBO have shows in the works on Sorokin’s life story.