It’s undeniable that Netflix’s Tiger King dropped at precisely the perfect time to occupy our lockdown brains. The true-crime documentary about the messy (and très problematic) world of big cat owners has brought with it an entire lexicon of names and phrases – Joe Exotic, “that bitch Carole Baskin” (as Joe would put it), “cool cats and kittens” – and has proved so popular that there’s already news of a drama adaptation (here’s Dazed’s list of who should play who, FYI). But there’s still one roaring question: who killed Carole Baskin’s ex-husband?
Now, crime network Investigation Discovery (ID) has announced that it’s working on a Tiger King sequel. Called Investigating The Strange World Of Joe Exotic, the new series will investigate the disappearance of Carole Baskin’s ex-husband, Don Lewis, who went missing 21 years ago.
“Love her or hate her, Carole is now in the centre ring of the big cat circus,” a press release for the new show reads. “Is she a selfless crusader and protector of animals, who found unimaginable strength despite the mysterious disappearance of her husband? Or are we witnessing Carole Baskin’s master plan finally take effect?”
The press release continues: “Despite her claims of innocence, did she orchestrate the disappearance of Don Lewis to seize control of his fortune, consolidate power and lay waste to her foes? No one seems to be talking – except for one man – and that man is the centre of ID’s upcoming investigative series.”
Henry Schleiff, the network’s group president, said: “Viewers are understandably riveted by Netflix’s Tiger King, but the millions of true crime fans around the world were left wanting more. ID is the perfect place to find the inevitable sequel to this drama – featuring a missing husband, a hit man, and the illegal business of exotic animals. It’s time to let the cat out of the bag and address the lingering questions that viewers demand be answered.”
Baskin has never been charged with anything relating to the disappearance of Lewis, but here’s hoping this sequel will offer some resolution. In the meantime, Tiger King’s Jeff Lowe, the shady investor and generally creepy dude who takes over Joe Exotic’s zoo has revealed there is one more episode left of Netflix’s saga, which will allegedly drop imminently.