Briarcliff Entertainment will release the upcoming film “Trust Me, I’m a Doctor” in theatres on October 16, following the acquisition of theatrical distribution rights from director Thane Economou, per variety.com.
The movie stars Abbie Cornish as the late model Anna Nicole Smith and Kal Penn as her physician, Dr Sandeep Kapoor. Based on Kapoor’s memoir of the same name, the narrative explores his relationship with Smith and his subsequent trial and acquittal following her death.
The drama focuses on the legal aftermath of Smith’s death from an accidental overdose in 2007. Kapoor faced multiple felony charges related to prescribing medications to the model. After a nine-week trial, he was cleared of all wrongdoing and acquitted.
Production stills reveal Cornish and Penn recreating Smith and Kapoor’s joint appearance at the West Hollywood Pride parade in 2005. The public appearance triggered significant backlash at the time, with critics accusing Kapoor of crossing professional boundaries. Additional imagery features Linda Hamilton in her role as Kapoor’s defence attorney, Ellyn Garofalo.
Penn praised Cornish’s performance, stating that she avoided caricature to capture the vulnerability and complexity of Smith. Reflecting on the script, Penn noted that his focus was on portraying the character accurately rather than evaluating Kapoor’s legal culpability.
During production, Penn and Kapoor discussed the physician’s long-standing belief that Smith was not an addict but a patient with legitimate chronic pain management needs, a distinction upheld during the criminal trial. The film also examines the role of enablers within Smith’s inner circle during her career.
The project is produced by Ryan Hawkins, Al Engemann, Rebecca Case and Geenah Krisht.
The film addresses a pivotal moment in the mid-2000s celebrity culture and the medical scrutiny that followed a string of high-profile prescription-related deaths. Kapoor’s acquittal remains a significant legal precedent regarding medical malpractice, dependency versus addiction, and the boundaries of physician-patient relationships under intense media spotlight.
•Featured image courtesy Briarcliff Entertainment