Matthew Modine, together with Mena Suvari, are to star in a new film which tells the story of the mysterious death of Las Vegas casino mogul, Ted Binion.

The film is called ‘Sex & Lies in Sin City’ and looks at the events before and after Binion’s death from a drug overdose in 1998 aged 54.  The verdict of his death was initially suicide, however, police found out later that Binion’s partner Sandy Murphy was cheating on him with a man named Rick Tabish.  It was also found out that Murphy was cut out of Binion’s life just a day before his death. Binion’s sister had suspected her brother was murdered.  Tabish was caught trying to unearth a secretly-buried vault in the Nevada desert hid by Binion, containing huge sums of silver bullion money and casino chips.  Murphy and Tabish were then arrested for murdering the Las Vegas heir.

The couple were sent to prison for the murder but the verdict was overturned in a second trial and they were found guilty of the lesser charge of burglary.

Ted Binion was the son of Binion Horseshoe Casino’s owner Benny Binion and he inherited his father’s empire after the businessman’s death in 1989.  Benny Binion is a Las Vegas legend as he was the architect of the first World Series of Poker event in 1970.

Full Metal Jacket star Modine plays the role of Ted Binion, whereas American Pie star Suvari will play Binion’s ex-stripper girlfriend Sandy Murphy.

The film is to be premiered on the Lifetime network on US TV in the autumn.  Tanya Lopez of Lifetime said: “Much like a trip to Vegas, this movie is a guilty pleasure.  Ripped from the headlines, ‘Sex & Lies in Sin City’ captures all of the true-crime story elements and the madness that surrounded Ted Binion’s life.”

“Sex and Lies in Sin City” is very much based on the book, “Murder in Sin City” by Peter German.  The script was written by Teena Booth and is directed by Peter Medak.  It is produced by the Konigsberg Company and Sony Pictures Television.

Helen Verno of Sony Pictures Television said, “We are thrilled to be working with director Peter Vedak on this fascinating true story of sex, drugs and an untimely death all with exciting Las Vegas as our backdrop.”