Drew Peterson Lifetime Movie to be Aired in January

Updated at 12:05 p.m. on Thursday.

Drew Peterson: Untouchable, Lifetime's made-for-TV movie based on the Drew Peterson saga, will air in January, said Joseph Hosey, author of the nonfiction book Fatal Vows: The Tragic Wives of Drew Peterson, which the book is based off of.

Hosey, who is also editor of Shorewood Patch, said the airing date is set for Jan. 21.

The movie has been in the works for nearly a year. In June, it was reported .

The film will explore the two cases in which one of Peterson's wives was killed and another mysteriously disappeared and also features Kaley Cuoco, who stars the Big Bang Theory, as Stacy Peterson. 

From a Lifetime release: 

Charming Chicago-area officer Drew Peterson (Lowe) seemed virtually “untouchable” in more ways than one when it came to his womanizing ways, having been married three times before landing the eye and affection of Stacy Cales (Cuoco), a woman half his age.  As Peterson’s relationship with Stacyblossoms, his relationship with third wife Kathleen Savio (Cara Buono, Mad Men) unravels in a bitter divorce -- until Kathleen is inexplicably found dead in an empty bathtub. Soon after making Stacy his fourth wife and having their first child, Peterson’s jealousy and controlling ways begin to strain their marriage.  Suddenly Stacy disappears, leaving her two children, and Peterson’s older children behind.  Peterson insists that Stacy left him for another man but in the wake of her disappearance, new questions are raised about Kathleen’s death and her case is re-opened, drawing national media attention to Peterson and the strange cases of Kathleen and Stacy.  Peterson seems to bask in the media attention, professing his innocence and announcing his engagement to yet another younger woman.  But whenauthorities take a closer look at the circumstances surrounding both cases, a different kind of spotlight is placed on him as more questions arise.  Are Kathleen’s death and Stacy’s still-unknown whereabouts just a tragic coincidence?  Or is there more there than meets the eye?

Peterson allegedly drowned his third wife, Kathleen Savio, in March 2004 but was not arrested until the disappearance of his next wife, Stacy Peterson, attracted attention to her death.

Peterson has been in jail ever since awaiting trial.

In February, the appellate court heard arguments from prosecutors and defense attorney Steve Greenberg over what—if any—hearsay evidence can be used against Peterson at his murder trial.

Will County State’s Attorney James Glasgow had brought the case to the appellate court in a bid to reverse Judge Stephen White’s decision to exclude most of the 13 hearsay statements he wants to use against Peterson.

The case had ascended all the way to the state's highest court, but just last week, the  to take the case again and make up its collective mind about it.

Peterson will likely spend at least another three months in jail before his trial could conceivably start, meaning he won't likely be able to see the movie when it airs.

According to reports, it took Lowe, who now stars in NBC's hit comedy show Parks and Recreation, .

"I have to say, it's an interesting choice," Hosey said upon hearing Lowe would play Peterson. "They're really going to have to ugly him up, but that's showbiz, I guess."

Lowe has said , calling his story "so compelling and dark and tragic... very complex."

“It’s a real transformative character for me to play," Lowe told Parade Magazine. "It’s just a very different style than anything I’ve ever done before and I think people are going to be surprised.”

Lowe said crews shot two different endings should Peterson's trial move forward and he be found guilty or innocent, the Parade report said.

A verdict, however, seems unlikely considering where the case stands now.

What do you think of Lifetime releasing a movie about Drew Peterson? Weigh in with a comment below.