During its presentation at the Television Critics Association winter press tour, A&E announced that it’s partnering with Jake Gyllenhaal on the development of an anthology series that will explore the world of different major American cult personas.
Executive produced by Gyllenhaal and Riva Marker and produced by their company Nine Stories Productions in association with A+E Studios, the series’ inaugural season would focus on the notorious story of Jim Jones and his cult The Peoples Temple of the Disciples of Christ. The series would chronicle Jones’ path from social leader and passionate integrationist to deranged spiritual dictator to a group of followers committed to his dangerous philosophy of faith.
“Riva and I founded Nine Stories to push creative limits, and have found a wonderful partner in A&E with this fascinating series,” Gyllenhaal stated. “Jim Jones is a complex character – one who has found his way into the collective unconscious. We want to focus on the undeniable magnatism of zealots and the danger of that kind of charisma. A notion not only pertinent to cult leaders but to the geo-political climate of today.”
In addition, A&E announced that the fourth season of BATES MOTEL and the first season of DAMIEN (the OMEN “sequel”) will air back-to-back on Monday nights beginning on March 7 at 9:00 p.m. ET/PT.