Shubhabrata Dutta
Lifetime’s ‘Drew Peterson: Untouchable’ is a thriller drama that is based on the true story of former Illinois police sergeant Drew Walter Peterson, who allegedly killed his third wife Kathleen Savio in 2003 and was found guilty of the same in 2012. The film offers a dramatic retelling of the events before and after the crime, including the legal proceedings. The Mikael Salomon directorial follows Peterson (Rob Lowe), a womanizer, who starts seeing Stacy Cales (Kaley Cuoco), a woman half his age, while being married to Kathleen (Cara Buono). The latter is soon found dead in a bathtub, and Peterson marries Stacy. However, when she too disappears mysteriously (2007), the authorities, while looking into the case, also reopen that of Kathleen’s death. As the investigation proceeds, horrific truths about Peterson’s “untouchable” dark side come to light. The visuals of ‘Drew Peterson: Untouchable’ aid in enhancing the authenticity of the crime committed while garnishing it for dramatic effect and impactful representation.
Where was Drew Peterson Untouchable Filmed?
While the crime allegedly took place in Bolingbrook, Illinois, ‘Drew Peterson: Untouchable’ was filmed entirely in California, specifically in Rossmoor and Los Alamitos in Orange County and Norwalk in Los Angeles County. Principal photography reportedly took place over 17 days in July 2011. While Rossmoor and Los Alamitos became the base for the shoot, the crew resorted to Norwalk to film additional scenes.
Orange County, California
Rossmoor, a small census-designated place near the city of Los Alamitos in Orange County, became the backdrop for the majority of the indoor and outdoor scenes in the film. The tree-lined streets and the 1950s-style homes enabled the crew to use the suburban terrain as a double for a Chicago block. Around three houses on Edgeley Place were reportedly used as the homes of the married couple, Drew and Kathleen, and Stacy. The crew also lensed a few scenes at Montecito Street and Bostonia Street.
In Los Alamitos itself, trailers were spotted near Jack L. Weaver Elementary School at 11872 Wembley Road. Fake police cars representing those from Bolingbrook were used, too. Care was taken to use props and ensure that the surroundings represent Chicago. Los Alamitos boasts Joint Forces Training Base-Los Alamitos, AKA Los Alamitos Army Airfield, which supports more than 6,000 National Guard and Reserve troops. It is also home to a USA Water Polo National Aquatic Center that operates out of the Los Alamitos High School. Some of the landmarks and popular spots you can visit in the city are Los Alamitos Race Course, Isidore Historical Plaza, Seal Beach Winery, and Rossmoor Park.
Los Angeles County, California
In Los Angeles County, the production team reportedly shot a few outdoor scenes in the lobby area of the GuestHouse International Hotel. Located at 12500 Firestone Boulevard in the city of Norwalk, which is around 14 miles southeast of downtown Los Angeles, the 3-star hotel features a swimming pool, a fitness center, and banquet facilities alongside its sophisticated rooms. The city itself is known for historic Front Street, which dates back to the 1800s and has doubled for small American towns in movies many times. Some tourist hotspots you can visit include Norwalk Town Square, Lakeside Park, Norwalk Cultural Arts Center, and Golf N’ Stuff, a miniature golf course. The county’s seat is Los Angeles, AKA the Home of Hollywood. It serves as the base for many production houses, one or more of which may have been used to capture indoor scenes. The show ‘Countdown‘ is also filmed in Los Angeles County.
Drew Peterson Untouchable Cast Details
‘Drew Peterson: Untouchable’ stars Rob Lowe and Kaley Cuoco in the lead roles. Rob began acting at the age of 12. He is into social work and is the first male spokesperson for the Lee National Denim Day fundraiser, which raises money for cancer research. Kaley, who was home-schooled as a kid, began modelling and acting in commercials at the age of 6. She is a proud advocate of animal rights and The Humane Society. Besides acting, she is great at horse riding and tennis, and was a national-level player in the sport as a teenager.
Rob Lowe as Drew Peterson
Rob Lowe plays Drew Peterson, the protagonist in ‘Drew Peterson: Untouchable.’ He is majorly known for his performances as Billy Hicks in ‘St. Elmo’s Fire,’ Sodapop Curtis in ‘The Outsiders,’ and Benjamin Oliver in ‘Wayne’s World.’ His more recent notable roles are Owen Strand in ‘9-1-1: Lone Star,’ John Marshall in ‘Dog Gone,’ Guy LeFranc in ‘Super Troopers 2,’ and Dr. Jack Startz in ‘Behind the Candelabra.’ Other projects he is a part of include ‘Unstable,’ ‘Code Black,’ ‘Thank You for Smoking,’ and ‘The Grinder.’
Kaley Cuoco as Stacy Cales
Kaley Cuoco portrays the role of Stacy Cales, the girlfriend and later the fourth wife of Drew Peterson, in the film. Kaley Cuoco became a household name with her performance as Penny Hofstadter in ‘The Big Bang Theory.’ She has a string of iconic TV show roles to her credit, including Bridget Hennessy in ‘8 Simple Rules,’ Cassie Bowden in ‘The Flight Attendant,’ and Ava Bartlett in ‘Based on a True Story.’ Feature films where you can see her include ‘Role Play,’ ‘The Man from Toronto,’ ‘The Wedding Ringer,’ and ‘Authors Anonymous.’
Cara Buono as Kathleen Savio
Cara Buono is best known for playing Karen Wheeler in Netflix’s popular series ‘Stranger Things.’ She is also famous for her role as Faye Miller in ‘Mad Men.’ You may also recognize her from shows like ‘Law & Order’ and ‘Supergirl’ and movies like ‘Paper Towns’ and ‘Let Me In.’
Apart from the leads, ‘Drew Peterson: Untouchable’ is also brought to life by a talented supporting cast that includes Catherine Dent as Karen Chojnacki, William Mapother as Glenn Levecke, Jonathan Scarfe as Jeff Aberdeen, Teddy Sears as Mike Adler, and Charlie Koznick as Joe Hosey. They are joined by Romy Rosemont as Sofia, James Karen as Pastor Tom Keller, John Asher as Brad, the neighbor, and Krista Kalmus as Brianna Cales. Additional cast includes Danielle Savre as Chloe Roberts, Natalie Smyka as Lauren, Dameon Clarke and Ryan Sands as State Detectives Franklin and Rogers, respectively, Harrison Forsyth as Justin Peterson, and Tanner Maguire as Zach Peterson.
