NEED TO KNOW
- The Chrisley family is gearing up to launch an all-new reality series at Lifetime, but a source tells PEOPLE that “the family’s situation is evolving rapidly” now that Todd and Julie Chrisley have received presidential pardons
- A source with knowledge of the production says “no one knew this pardon would happen and the goal is to cover their lives in real time,” though things continue to change daily
- Todd and Julie reported to prison in January 2023 to serve a combined 19-year sentence, which was later reduced
Now that Todd and Julie Chrisley have been pardoned, what does that mean for their family’s new Lifetime series?
Amid their imprisonment, PEOPLE announced on May 21 that Lifetime was premiering an all-new docuseries showing how Chase Chrisley, Savannah Chrisley, Grayson Chrisley, Chloe Chrisley and Nanny Faye Chrisley have navigated the family hardship. Todd, 57, and Julie, 52, were not initially expected to be involved in the show as they were behind bars.
However, on Tuesday, May 27, President Donald Trump pardoned the longtime couple and Todd was officially released a day later. The legal shift occurred two and a half years after they reported to prison in January 2023.
With so much up in the air about their new show, a source with knowledge of the production now tells PEOPLE they are adjusting to the changes.
“The show is still filming and will continue to, though the family’s situation is evolving rapidly,” the source says.
“No one knew this pardon would happen and the goal is to cover their lives in real time, but things have significantly changed for them all and everyone in the family, as well as producers, are trying to figure it out and tell their authentic story,” the source continues.
The Chrisley family’s previous show, Chrisley Knows Best, “was very comical,” says the source, who points out their new series will “be different as they’re all in a much different place now.”
“But the producers are used to this,” the source adds of the Lifetime crew. “It’s similar to Wendy Williams. When filming began on her doc, they thought they were going to do one kind of show and then everything changed.”
The series, currently named The Untitled Chrisleys Project, comes nearly three years after Chrisley Knows Best concluded on the USA Network in March 2023. Its Chase and Savannah-focused spinoff, Growing Up Chrisley, had ended in October 2022, just a month ahead of Todd and Julie’s November 2022 sentencing.
Per an official logline from the network, “the Chrisleys don’t know best anymore, but they’re doing their best to be there for each other. The family faces the challenge of carrying on the Chrisley name and legacy on their own with only phone calls and brief visits with their incarcerated parents.”
“While Savannah maintains custody of her younger siblings, Chloe and Grayson, she has been fighting tirelessly for a Presidential pardon to free her parents,” the synopsis continued. “Meanwhile, Chase is addressing some life struggles while building his new business and navigating his relationship with girlfriend Jodi.”
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The multigenerational bunch will also be “exposing the raw truth of their lives — past and present — and the reality is far different from what audiences have seen before.”
Savannah, 27, shared with PEOPLE earlier this year that her family was “working with a production company, and things were going great,” the Unlocked with Savannah Chrisley podcast host told PEOPLE. “And then, there were some things that were done that I did not like.”
Savannah continued, “I backed out. I stepped away, and I said, ‘I’m done. I am not working. I’m not getting myself in a situation I don’t feel comfortable and safe in.”
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