A new HBO drama series centered around the Jonestown massacre is in the works, centered on Jim Jones and the Peoples Temple. Bill Hader and Daniel Zelman are writing the script and will co-showrunner and executive produce. Hader will also direct and potentially star as Jones. The show was announced in April 2025 and is still in early development with no production timeline or release date confirmed.
The series will explore the 1978 mass murder-suicide in Jonestown, Guyana, where over 900 Peoples Temple members died after drinking cyanide-laced Flavor Aid under Jones’ direction. It aims to depict Jones’ rise as a charismatic leader and the tragic events that followed. The show is not linked to earlier Jonestown projects, like Vince Gilligan’s 2016 HBO attempt.
Everything to Know About HBO’s Jonestown TV Series
Bill Hader will co-write, direct and potentially star in a Jonestown series for HBO.
— DiscussingFilm (@DiscussingFilm) April 23, 2025
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A new HBO drama series about the Jonestown massacre is in production, announced in April 2025. Bill Hader and Daniel Zelman are writing the script and will be co-showrunners and executive producers. Hader will direct and potentially play Jim Jones, the Peoples Temple leader. The production is in its early stages, with no official production schedule, release date, or casting beyond Hader’s possible role.
The series seeks to investigate the life of Jim Jones, his creation of the Peoples Temple in the 1950s, and the events in Jonestown in Guyana. It’s distinct from an abandoned 2016 HBO Jonestown project by Vince Gilligan. There have been no reported official words from Hader or Zelman, but Variety mentioned, “The project tells the story of Jones and his people,” centering on the history of the cult.
The case of Jonestown involves the 1978 mass murder-suicide at Guyana’s Peoples Temple Agricultural Project, in which more than 918 members died, including 304 children. On November 18, 1978, Jim Jones ordered the killings after instructing followers to drink Flavor Aid with cyanide, after having murdered Congressman Leo Ryan and four others visiting the commune investigating. Jones, who succumbed to an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound, gained a following in the United States, advocating racial integration before relocating to Guyana in 1974 to establish a utopian society.
The episode, one of history’s greatest mass suicides, was coercive, with gun-wielding guards blocking escapes. Survivor Tim Carter told a 2006 PBS documentary, “It was murder, not suicide—people were forced.” The series will presumably show Jones’ charm, the commune’s fall, and the tragedy’s toll, based on widespread media coverage, including books and documentaries such as Jonestown: The Life and Death of Peoples Temple.
Who is Bill Hader?
Bill Hader, born June 7, 1978, in Tulsa, Oklahoma, is an American writer, director, comedian, and actor. During his childhood, he enjoyed movies and tended to study classics and directors, which developed his career. In 1999, he moved to Los Angeles to pursue film production but was part of Saturday Night Live (SNL) between 2005 and 2013, becoming well-known for impressions such as Al Pacino.
Hader co-created and starred in HBO’s Barry (2018–2023), playing a hitman turned actor, earning two Emmys for Outstanding Lead Actor. He also co-created Documentary Now! and voiced characters in films like Inside Out and Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs. In a 2023 Deadline interview, Hader said, “I’ve written [a project] with Duffy Boudreau… a movie I’d like to make,” hinting at his directing ambitions.
Currently, Hader is developing a Jonestown series for HBO with Daniel Zelman, announced in April 2025. He’s co-writing, directing, and may star as Jim Jones, focusing on the 1978 Peoples Temple massacre. The project is in early development with no release date. Hader is also working on a comedy pilot with Duffy Boudreau about a woman’s secret in a small town.
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Hilfa, Senior Writer at Hilvaro, excels in pop culture journalism. She crafts engaging content on movies, TV, & trends, fueled by her love for storytelling & entertainment.
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