The Peoples Temple was a cultlike religious organization run by Jim Jones in northwestern Guyana; in 1978, Jones initiated a “revolutionary suicide” that left over 900 Americans dead from cyanide poisoning, a bleakly symbolic end to the group’s operations.
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Okay, now here’s a bit of exciting news to end the week: Breaking Bad creator Vince Gilligan, director and producer Michelle MacLaren and Octavia Spencer are teaming up to develop a new project about the infamous Jonestown cult for HBO. There are no plans for Spencer to act in the project.
The new series will be based on the book Raven: The Untold Story of the Rev. Jim Jones and His People, by Tim Reiterman, a journalist who actually survived the events in Jonestown, Guyana.
Raven tells the definitive history of Peoples Temple, from its idealistic beginnings to its awful end in Jonestown. In addition to that show, Gilligan co-created its prequel, Better Call Saul, which has done well with viewers and critics and is nominated for Best Drama Series Emmy for a second consecutive year. Reiterman’s reportage clarifies enduring misperceptions of the character and motives of Jim Jones, the reasons why people followed him, and the important truth that many of those who perished at Jonestown were victims of mass murder rather than suicide. Should Raven go to series, it would become the latest drama for Gilligan, who now exec produces AMC prequel Better Call Saul. Season 1 focuses on Jones and his cult The Peoples Temple of the Disciples of Christ. In the years since the series’ conclusion, she has gone on to form a strong relationship with HBO, directing multiple Game of Thrones episodes and serving as executive producer and director on the David Simon pilot The Deuce, which was recently picked up to series. Gilligan is repped by ICM Partners and Del Shaw.
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Oscar victor Spencer, recently seen/heard in Allegiant and Zootopia, next will co-star in Fox’s Hidden Figures.
