Breaking Bad’s Vince Gilligan To Create Series About 70’s Cult Leader Jim Jones
Vince Gilligan, the creative genius behind Breaking Bad and Better Call Saul is set to tackle some real-life drama, with a limited series about 70’s Cult Leader Jim Jones for HBO it has been announced.
For those of you that aren’t up-to-date on your history of 70’s American cult leaders, Jim Jones was the founder and leader of The Peoples Temple of the Disciples of Christ. Set up in 1950’s Indianapolis, Indiana, the cult moved to California in the 60’s, then Jonestown, Guyana in the 70’s. The endeavour lasted till 1978, when Jones convinced the the entire group of 918 member to commit a mass murder-suicide by drinking grape-flavoured ‘Flavor Aid’ laced with cyanide.
The show will be called Raven, based on journalist Tim Reiterman’s book ‘Raven: The Untold Story of Jim Jones and His People’. Reiterman first covered the cult in the 70’s for the San Francisco Examiner. He actually survived being shot during an attack by the group when he accompanied Congressman Leo Ryan on an investigative trip to Jonestown in November 1978. The book is said to be the definitive history of The Peoples Temple, and the events leading to the final tragedy.
Michelle MacLaren, who exec-produced and directed episodes of Breaking Bad, is reuniting with Gilligan to direct the project. Gilligan and MacLaren will exec-produce along side actress Octavia Spencer (Fruitvale Station, The Help) who optioned the rights for Reiterman’s book.
No news yet on when Raven is likely to air, but given the group behind the project, it will definitely be one keep an eye on.
