Bill Hader to Star in and Direct New HBO Series on Jonestown Cult

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One of the highly praised shows set for 2025 television lineup is “The Studio,” where Seth Rogen, one of its co-creators, plays the role of Matt Remick, Continental Studios’ head. In the show’s premiere, Matt is given the challenge of producing a Kool-Aid movie, even going as far as attempting to recruit Martin Scorsese to direct it after discovering his interest in creating a Jonestown film. However, things didn’t pan out as expected, and viewers can tune into Apple TV+ to find out more about the ensuing events. Essentially, life is imitating art, almost. A Jonestown television series is under development, with Bill Hader, known for his work on “Saturday Night Live,” attached to it.

Hader teams up with Daniel Zelman to create an HBO series based on cult leader Jim Jones and the tragic occurrences at the Peoples Temple Agricultural Project, also known as Jonestown. The duo will not only write the series but also act as co-showrunners and executive producers. If approved, Hader may also assume directing duties for the project. According to Variety, Hader, famous for his SNL characters like Stefon and Vinny Vedecci, might even take on a role within the series.

More Bill Hader Stories

Although it may seem like he’s just dozing off, here’s a humorous Titanic-inspired reason why comedian Bill Hader was once dismissed from his job at the movie theater:

It wasn’t because he couldn’t sell enough popcorn or keep the seats tidy. Instead, during a screening of James Cameron’s epic masterpiece ‘Titanic,’ Hader found himself so captivated by the scene where Jack (played by Leonardo DiCaprio) draws Rose (Kate Winslet) that he decided to recreate it, complete with the iconic “I’m the king of the world” line. Unfortunately for Hader, his impromptu performance was met with a stern reprimand and eventually led to his termination.

Fans Were Sad Bill Hader’s Stefon Didn’t Make An SNL 50 Appearance. Apparently, There Was A Reason

Jim Jones established the Peoples Temple in Guayana during the 1950s, which later became famous as Jonestown by the 1970s. In 1978, this settlement garnered worldwide attention when more than 900 individuals, including Jones himself, perished following a mass act of suicide or murder. Tragically, this event transpired only hours after U.S. Congressman Leo Ryan was fatally shot at an airstrip in Guyana while he and others were trying to depart, having arrived to investigate allegations that inhabitants of Jonestown were being kept against their will.

Most fatalities occurred due to consuming a concoction of drugs and toxic substances, such as cyanide, blended into a solution resembling Flavor Aid, which was mistakenly thought to be Kool-Aid. This tragic event led to the phrase, “Drinking the Kool-Aid.” The Jonestown massacre has been portrayed on television in the 1980 miniseries titled Guyana Tragedy: The Story of Jim Jones, with Powers Boothe playing the role of Jones. In 2016, creator of Breaking Bad, Vince Gilligan, was developing his own Jonestown series for HBO, but the project did not progress further.

Bill Hader, who’s famous for his comedy roles, has ventured into dramatic territories as well, notably in the HBO series Barry. Given this background, it’s likely that he understands the sensitivity of adapting the Jonestown tragedy for television and would refrain from using it for comedic purposes. If the acting aspects of his role are confirmed, it’s reasonable to expect that he might portray Jim Jones, although we’ll certainly update you if this isn’t the case.

If the Jonestown TV series takes flight, I can only wish for its creative journey to go smoothly without facing the same fate that Martin Scorsese’s intended final project in The Studio did. In the meantime, don’t forget to rewatch Bill Hader’s performances on Barry with a Max subscription, and keep in mind that he will voice The Cat in the Hat’s title character in the upcoming animated movie adaptation, set to premiere in theaters next year.

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2025-04-24 15:37