Gabby Petito Lifetime Movie Trailer Released

BLUE POINT, NY — The trailer for Lifetime's "The Gabby Petito Story" released over the weekend centers around the Long Island native's complicated relationship with her fiancé, Brian Laundrie.

The movie explores what may have gone wrong during their cross-country trip that resulted in her tragic murder last August.

Petito, a 22-year-old Blue Point vlogger, disappeared in August 2021 while on a cross-country "Van Life" trip with Laundrie. He returned to his parents' home in Florida in her van Sept. 1, 2021, without her. After a frantic interstate search, involving multiple law enforcement agencies, Petito was found strangled to death near Grand Teton National Park in Wyoming on Sept. 19, eight days after she was reported missing.

Laundrie’s remains were found in a Florida swamp, as well as a note in which he claimed responsibility for her death. In his writing, Laundrie said she fell and was in so much pain afterward that he strangled her.

In a post on YouTube captioning the trailer, the movie's producers noted Petito's disappearance captured America’s attention, setting off a nationwide search for her.

"Non-stop coverage on the news drove amateur sleuths to dissect Gabby’s social media posts for clues about what happened to her during her trip, leading to the eventual discovery of her body in Wyoming," the post reads. "As the one-year anniversary of her tragic death approaches, the movie will bring to life Gabby and Brian's doomed love story, including the warning signs that Gabby’s life was in danger, the ensuing search for her, the eventual discovery of her murder and ultimately, Brian's suicide."

The trailer begins with Petito, played by actress Skylar Samuels, leaning against the window of a van as Laundrie, played by actor Evan Hall, drives. The clip then follows with her telling someone, "I know you don't see it, but, like, most of the time, he is like a really great guy."

Next, Petito and Laundrie share a tender moment sitting up in bed, and he says: "So I was thinking we just hit the road and see what happens."

She agrees, touching the side of his face. But the tone of the trailer darkens quickly.

Next the vlogger, who had been sharing photos and video from their trip across the United States, tells Laundrie how she is sharing with the world.

Laundrie dismisses her, questioning, "Why would the world care about our trip?"

The trailer also contains a segment showing the now infamous traffic stop in Utah, in which the two were filmed on police bodycam footage after an intense argument. Petito could be seen crying the entire time.

"What's going on? How come you crying?" asks the officer.

Petito can then be seen unaware Laundrie is eavesdropping while telling someone on the phone, "One second I am so happy and in love and the next he like is a total stranger."

The following clip shows Petito shouting at Laundrie, "Let go of me!" and then she pushes him away.

In the next scene, filmmakers recreate a scene described by witnesses where the two are fighting in a restaurant. Laundrie throws food off the table and gets up from his seat.

The scene quickly switches to Petito's mother, Nichole Schmidt, played by director Thora Birch, saying, "Something about this is not right," and then a friend of Petito telling her, "These episodes of Brian are not going to stop happening."

Someone then tells Petito, "You should get in your car and drive away."

The trailer ends with a campfire scene and Petito telling Laundrie, "I thought you wanted to travel and see the world together, but instead it feels like you just want me all to yourself."

The film is part of Lifetime’s Stop Violence Against Women public affairs initiative and as part of that there will be a new Public Service Announcement to debut "as part of the movie’s rollout, driving to the important work of the network’s coalition of partners to provide resources for women," producers said back in May.

The trailer also contains a PSA advising anyone suffering from domestic violence to call the National Domestic Violence hotline at 1-800-799-SAFE.

Petito's family have previously said that they do not approve of the movie, according to a report in The Sun.

In a statement issued by the AWARE Foundation, which has partnered with the Schmidt/Petito family on domestic violence programs, Schmidt said: "We thought our followers should know that the Lifetime movie on Gabby Petito has no connection to the Petito family nor did they give their approval," the statement shared by the foundation reads.

"Lifetime took it upon themselves to make the movie," the statement read.

The Petito/Schmidt family are suing Laundrie's parents for wrongful death, as well as police in Moab, Utah, where the traffic stop was filmed.

"The Gabby Petito Story" premieres on Lifetime on Oct. 1.

To watch the trailer, click here.

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