NBC, CNN axe Clinton projects

US broadcast network NBC and newscaster CNN have both cancelled their respective programmes about Hillary Clinton amid rising political pressure.

Inside Job director Charles Ferguson has abandoned plans for a feature documentary that was due to air on CNN, citing political interference.

Writing in a blog on the Huffington Post website yesterday, Ferguson said obstacles placed in his way had made production of the doc impossible.

“When I approached people for interviews I discovered that nobody, and I mean nobody, was interested in helping me make this film. Not Democrats, not Republicans – and certainly nobody who works with the Clintons, wants access to the Clintons, or dreams of a position in a Hillary Clinton administration,” he said.

“Neither political party wanted the film made. After painful reflection, I decided that I couldn’t make a film of which I would be proud. And so I’m cancelling.”

NBC followed suit within hours, canning its four-part biopic of the former first lady, and potential 2016 presidential candidate, which was due to star Diane Lane in the lead role.

NBC issued a short statement saying: “After reviewing and prioritising our slate of movie/miniseries development, we’ve decided that we will no longer continue developing the Hillary Clinton miniseries.”

The commissions were always likely to be controversial, with Clinton widely tipped to be the Democrat contender in the 2016 presidential elections.

The programmes were previously described by the Republican Party as “little more than extended commercials promoting former Secretary Clinton” that will “jeopardise the credibility of CNN and NBC.” The party had already banned both broadcasters from running presidential primary debates involving their candidates as a result.

NBC News political director Chuck Todd has previously described the miniseries commissions as “a nightmare” for the news division.