When Is HBO's 'What Happened, Brittany Murphy' Out and What's the Documentary About?

Brittany Murphy, best known for her iconic performances in Clueless, Uptown Girl and 8 Mile, sadly died in December 2009 at just 32 years old.

For over a decade, questions surrounding the days leading up to Murphy's passing and the cause of death itself have continued to be asked. A new HBO Max documentary, titled What Happened, Brittany Murphy? will explore the circumstances surrounding the late actress's death.

Newsweek has everything you need to know about the highly anticipated documentary.

When Is HBO's 'What Happened, Brittany Murphy' Out?

The premiere of What Happened, Brittany Murphy is coming to screens a lot sooner than you may think.

What Happened, Brittany Murphy will premiere on Thursday, October 14. Two episodes will drop at once on the streaming platform.

To watch What Happened, Brittany Murphy, you must be an HBO Max customer. At the moment, you can sign up to HBO Max for $14.99 a month.

What Is 'What Happened, Brittany Murphy' About?

HBO Max's documentary What Happened, Brittany Murphy teases an "intimate, in-depth character portrait" of the late actress, and the circumstances surrounding her death on December 20, 2009. She was 32-years-old when she died.

Her death was officially ruled by the coroner as accidental, caused by pneumonia, anemia, and drug intoxication. However, fans of Murphy and some people who knew her have dismissed the coroner's findings.

Murphy shot to fame as Tai Frasier in Clueless and went on to star in the films Drive, Girl, Interrupted, Just Married and Sin City.

Her other well-known credits include Riding in Cars with Boys, Uptown Girls, Freeway, 8 Mile and Something Wicked.

Through archival footage and interviews with those close to her, the documentary examines the role Hollywood's sexism played in the actress's life and delves deep into the "lingering concerns" about her relationship with her husband Simon Monjack.

London-born screenwriter Monjack and Murphy married in May 2007. He died in 2010, also of pneumonia, in the same LA home he once shared with his wife. He always denied any involvement in her death.

The trailer features snippets of interviews with those who were close to Murphy, including Hocus Pocus actress Kathy Najimy, and Clueless director Amy Heckerling.

A voice can be heard saying: "Simon took her away. He made sure no one could get to her" as footage of her early life appears on the screen.

Another voice in the trailer adds: "During a little dip she was having, he came along... She became prey."

The two-part series is directed by Emmy nominee Cynthia Hill, who said in a statement when the project was announced in March 2021: "I agreed to do this film because I think it's a shame that Brittany's promising life and career has been eclipsed by the circumstances of her death. I think it's important to celebrate Brittany's talent as we struggle to explain the tragic circumstances of her and Simon's deaths."

Jennifer O'Connell, executive vice president of live-action family programming at HBO Max, added: "Our Brittany Murphy documentary cuts through the tabloid noise with an elevated, nuanced depiction of a sensational story. Crafting a grounded account of Brittany Murphy's life struggles and sudden passing comes with great responsibility and we've partnered with a masterful creative team to produce a thoughtful examination of a tragedy that has long been cause for speculation."

Both episodes of the What Happened, Brittany Murphy? will debut on HBO Max on Thursday, October 14.