There are now dueling Jim Jones projects in the works! Just three months ago, we heard that Leonardo DiCaprio will be playing the cult leader in an MGM movie appropriately titled Jim Jones, with Scott Rosenberg writing the screenplay. Now The Hollywood Reporter has shared the news that Joseph Gordon-Levitt (The Dark Knight Rises) has signed on to play Jones in White Night, “a psychological thriller about Jim Jones’ infamous People’s Temple cult.”
Chloe Grace Moretz (Mother/Android) is also on board, set to play Jonestown survivor Deborah Layton.
Anne Sewitsky (A Very British Scandal) will be directing White Night from a screenplay by William Wheeler, based on Layton’s memoir Seductive Poison (pick up a copy at THIS LINK).
From his base in San Francisco, the charismatic preacher Jones built a large and devoted following. In 1974, he established “Jonestown” in Guyana. It was there, on November 18, 1978, that Jones commanded his followers to drink poison. More than 900 people died in one of the largest mass murder suicides on record.
Moretz will play Layton, who was drawn into Jones’ inner circle and became a leading member of the People’s Temple before finding out the truth about him and trying to expose him to the world.
There’s no word on when DiCaprio’s Jim Jones expects to start filming, but White Night is aiming to go into production in the spring. The project is being funded by FilmNation Entertainment. FilmNation is also producing alongside Archer Gray.
Archer Gray CEO Amy Nauiokas had this to say about the project:
Debbie Layton’s Seductive Poison was the first book Anne Carey and I optioned at Archer Gray, and it formed the foundation of our mission to help give voice to the stories it was time to hear. Debbie’s incredible journey with the People’s Temple deserves an audience across generations. It should serve as a warning about the power a certain type of charismatic leader can have and the very real lessons to be learned from our history.”
FilmNation’s President of Production Ashley Fox added:
When we first read Bill Wheeler’s adaptation, it was seeing this infamous story from Deborah’s point of view that unlocked it psychologically and dramatically. Entering Jim Jones’ magnetic orbit through the eyes of an idealistic, passionate young woman reminded us that anyone can fall victim to extremism, given the right circumstances.”
The story of Jim Jones and Jonestown is very disturbing, and I’m sure Joseph Gordon-Levitt will do a great job playing the cult leader. With White Night beating them into production, it will be interesting to see if DiCaprio and MGM decide to continue pushing Jim Jones forward.