‘Golden State Killer’ movie secures distributor for US release, report says

A film about the horrors carried out by the Golden State Killer has secured a distributor after it was on sale this week at the Cannes Film Market, according to a media report.

Deadline reported a true-crime thriller titled “Golden State Killer” will be distributed domestically by Grindstone Entertainment Group, a partner of Lionsgate.

The movie, previously called “The Policeman,” is written and directed by Vito Brown. James Franco stars as a detective investigating Joseph James DeAngelo, the killer who eventually pleaded guilty in 2020 to 13 counts of murder and 13 counts of kidnapping to commit robbery. DeAngelo will be played by Vincent Gallo, according to Deadline.

Controversy arose over the film early last year after two women accused Gallo of behaving inappropriately during the audition process, according to Rolling Stone magazine. A third woman did not attend the casting process after hearing about Gallo’s behavior.

The complaints prompted labor union Screen Actors Guild, the American Federation of Television and Radio Artists to begin investigating Gallo, according to the Rolling Stone magazine story published January 2024.

DeAngelo, a former police officer, terrorized for 12 years victims across California, from the Sacramento area to Orange County. His first killing was in September 1975, but he wasn’t arrested or identified until 2018, when he was living in Citrus Heights. He also admitted to 62 rapes and other crimes for which he was not charged, according to The Sacramento Bee’s previous reporting.

DeAngelo, 79, is serving a life sentence in prison. The California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation has not disclosed the facility in which he is incarcerated.

This story was originally published May 15, 2025 at 1:02 PM.