EXCLUSIVE: Michael C. Hall (Right) and Grace Caroline Currey (Fall) joined Vera Farmiga (The incantation), Tim Blake Nelson (Captain America: Brave New World) and Simon Rex (Red rocket) in a true crime biopic The leaderbased on the mass suicide of the religious group Heaven’s Gate in 1997.
The project entered into an interim agreement with SAG-AFTRA.
Michael Gallagher (The culling) directed from his original script. The picture was produced by Cinemand Films (Funny story) and Balcony 9 Productions (Bride difficult).
The leader will tell the significant true story of the 39 members of the UFO cult known as Heaven’s Gate who committed the largest mass suicide ever committed on American soil. The film follows Nettles (Farmiga) and Applewhite (Nelson) as they develop religion, build a devoted following and face unforeseen conflict when the spaceship fails to arrive.
Hall will play a major follower: a wealthy addict who tries to win Applewhite’s favor by financially supporting the cult with his trust fund. Currey plays an Oregon boutique owner who abandons society to join the cult in the late 1970s, leaving her family and fiancé behind.
The fair introduced the project to buyers at EFM 2023 and will continue sales at AFM this week.
Producers are Jana Gallagher, Michael Wormser and Michael Gallagher of Cinemand Films and Joel David Moore of Balcony 9 Productions. Rishi Bajaj and Daniel Taborga of Balcony 9 Productions will serve as executive producers along with Cassian Elwes, Evan Silverberg and Entertainment 360. Lisa Essary serves as casting director.
“I was touched by Michael Gallagher’s honesty and care in addressing such a difficult subject,” said Currey. “I couldn’t stop reading the story after reading his script. I hope to bring as much heart and humanity into my work as possible in this project.
The Exchange’s Nat McCormick added, “Michael C. Hall and Grace Caroline Currey add to the commercialization of an already highly anticipated and strong feature film.”
The exchange’s AFM series also includes Brad Anderson’s World breakerJennifer Espositos New murders and Orlando Blooms The clip.
Hall is repped by CAA, Authentic Talent and Literary Management and Peikoff Mahan Law Office and Currey is repped by Innovative Artists, Mainstay Entertainment and Hansen Jacobson Teller.
Source: Deadline
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