Richard Gadd at the photo call for “Baby Reindeer” held at the DGA Theater Complex on May 7, 2024 in Los Angeles, California.

LOS ANGELES — The pilot episode of Netflix's hit miniseries "Baby Reindeer" presents viewers with the following message: "This is a true story."

But how much of "Baby Reindeer" creator Richard Gadd's fictionalized retelling of a life-altering encounter with a serial stalker is actually true? That is the question at the heart of a high-profile legal case that could influence how scripted adaptations of real events are handled by Hollywood going forward.

In June, the woman who allegedly inspired the stalker character in "Baby Reindeer" sued Netflix for negligence and defamation.

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Fiona Harvey's $170-million complaint accused the Los Gatos, Calif.-based streaming giant of telling "brutal lies" and attempting to "viciously destroy" her life in pursuit of money and viewers — all while advertising the series as a true story.

"This was a really great series that shows how the lines between telling a true story and the art of docudramas can raise unique legal problems," said Jason Shepard, interim dean of Cal State Fullerton's College of Communications.

The true-story genre has functioned as a reliable source of revenue and awards clout for Hollywood studios for some time, with projects ranging from blockbuster biopics ("Bohemian Rhapsody," "Bob Marley: One Love") to gripping TV docudramas ("American Crime Story," "Inventing Anna") launching to great success.

But portraying real people and events comes with real risks, and this is not the first time Netflix has been sued for defamation.

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In June, the streamer settled a lawsuit filed by former New York City prosecutor Linda Fairstein, who alleged that she was unfairly depicted in Ava DuVernay's Emmy-winning miniseries about the 1989........

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