According to Deadline, Emmy winner Sarah Paulson has officially signed on for the leading role in HBO Max’s upcoming TV adaptation of The Way Down: God, Greed, and the Cult of Gwen Shamblin, based on the recently released docuseries. The American Horror Story alum is set to portray cult leader Gwen Shamblin, who died in a plane crash last year.
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The Way Down will be executive produced by Paulson and Michelle Dean (The Act), who is also set as the showrunner. Gwen Shamblin was best known for creating the Weigh Down Workshop, a Christian-based diet program. She’s accused of practicing cult-like activities at the church she founded Remnant Fellowship Church.
“The series looks at the legacy of Remnant’s infamous leader, and the second part examines the mysterious circumstances surrounding the crash and investigation into the aftermath, including new stories from former survivors who felt compelled to share their experience following Shamblin’s death,” reads the synopsis.
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Executive producers are Ross Dinerstein, Chrissy Teigen, Marina Zenovick, Nile Cappello, P.G. Morgan and Luke Dillon. Rebecca Evans and Ross Girard.
