Back in January of this year, we mentioned that Bill Hader and one of his BARRY buddies, Duffy Boudreau, pitched a comedy series to HBO. But we just learned that pitch is not the one everyone’s attention is on. That project could still materialize, but Hader seems to be focusing on a bigger work—a retelling of the Jonestown tragedy of 1978.
Hader and Daniel Zelman, an American actor, screenwriter, television producer, and director, will co-write and serve as co-showrunners. Hader will also direct if the project moves forward and potentially star in it. Zelman is noted for producing & co-creating the FX drama Damages, was a consulting producer for nine episodes of SUCCESSION, and had a role in Robert Zemeckis’ What Lies Beneath. Now this duo has to do the legwork to convince HBO it can get their project up & running to receive the necessary greenlight to take it to series.
As Deadline reminds us, Jonestown became internationally infamous in November 1978 when Rev. Jim Jones orchestrated a mass murder-suicide of more than 900 members of his Peoples Temple in Jonestown, Guyana. The majority of deaths were caused by cyanide-laced fruit punch, with some being forced to ingest the poison, while others were injected. The poisonings followed the murder of U.S. Congressman Leo Ryan by Temple members at Port Kaituma, ordered by Jones. Four other members committed murder-suicide in Georgetown, Guyana at Jones’ command. Jones had led his followers to Guyana from the U.S., promising them a utopian community, but his leadership became increasingly paranoid and controlling.
Do you see Bill Hader slipping on the dark sunglasses of the late Reverend? Do you see Bill Hader slipping on the tinted glasses of the late Reverend? If he does take on the role, he won’t be the first. Stuart Whitman played him in a 1979 English-language Mexican film written and directed by René Cardona Jr., and a 1980 CBS miniseries had DEADWOOD’s Powers Boothe personifying him. I remember the latter one, and I recall Boothe creeping me out! But, if this latest pitch comes to fruition, I see Hader putting a chilly spin on the Reverand as well. We’ll keep you posted.
