http://www.express.co.uk/news/uk/866627/Gerry-Kate-McCann-snub-new-Maddie-documentaryFILMMAKERS are pressing ahead with a controversial eight-part documentary about the abduction of Madeleine McCann – even though her parents want nothing to do with it.
By JAMES MURRAY
PUBLISHED: 00:01, Sun, Oct 15, 2017 | UPDATED: 09:22, Sun, Oct 15, 2017
The so-called Tapas Seven, friends of the McCanns who holidayed with them at Praia da Luz, Portugal, when Madeleine disappeared 10 years ago, have also snubbed the venture commissioned by Netflix and Paramount.
Despite the rejection of co-operation by parents Gerry and Kate McCann, Pulse Films has put together a team, including producers and researchers, to keep the project on track.
They are working on a “treatment” which will form the basis of the series, which could cost £20million.
Last week an executive working for the London-based firm visited Rothley, Leicestershire, where the McCanns live and spent hours interviewing journalists who have chronicled the story.
The assistant producer, who has expertise in undercover filming, later flew to Portugal where he has already established links with people closely involved with the story.
Another executive has also visited residents near the home.
It is thought producers want to involve former Portuguese police chief Goncalo Amaral, who has been involved in bitter legal action with the McCanns.
Dramatic reconstructions will be made of key events, including the night of May 3, 2007, when Madeleine, aged three, disappeared.
Clarence Mitchell, spokesman for the McCanns, has confirmed Pulse Films wrote to Kate and Gerry asking them to co-operate.
He said: “Gerry said they did not want to get involved and that is also the view of their friends.”
Netflix is hoping to screen the series next spring, but a spokesman for Pulse Films declined to comment.
The company has more than 100 million subscribers with more than half of them living outside the United States.
Scotland Yard and Portuguese police continue to investigate the case but they have not made a breakthrough.
A television insider said: "This documentary series could provide the McCanns with an opportunity to appeal to a vast global audience of possibly 50 million for help, but they may see it as exploitative and too painful.”
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So, it's reportedly going to cost a whopping £20m to produce a documentary on an investigation which has cost the taxpayer £12m over 10 years. I wonder if any of the sceptics will spot the irony in that?