Weinstein’s Waco Event Series Lands at Spike

NEW YORK: Weinstein Television’s event series Waco, starring Michael Shannon and Taylor Kitsch, has been picked up by Spike TV.

The six-part event series is based on the true story of the 1993 FBI siege of a religious sect in Waco, Texas, that resulted in the deadly shootout and fire. Shannon (Revolutionary Road, Boardwalk Empire, Take Shelter) will play lead FBI negotiator, Gary Noesner. The role of the infamous cult leader David Koresh will be played by Kitsch (Friday Night Lights, X-Men Origins: Wolverine, John Carter, Lone Survivor).

The series is based on two biographies: A Place Called Waco, by Branch Davidian David Thibodeau, one of the nine survivors of the final fire on April 19, 1993, and Stalling for Time: My Life as an FBI Hostage Negotiator, written by the FBI’s Special Agent in Charge of Negotiations Gary Noesner.

Shannon, Kitsch and the Dowdle brothers will executive produce the series along with The Weinstein Company Co-Chairmen Harvey Weinstein and Bob Weinstein; David Glasser, president and COO; Jennifer Malloy, co-head of production; and Megan Spanjian, head of scripted television at Weinstein Television.

Harvey Weinstein said: “We’ve been working with our friend Kevin Kay at Spike for years. He has a rare gift for creating quality scripted television with commercial appeal and when he shared his vision for both the program and his goals for the network I knew we had found the perfect partner. Waco is a provocative series where the drama and excitement are amplified by the truth and the history surrounding the event, along with a cast of amazing actors including the incredible Michael Shannon and Taylor Kitsch. We are looking forward to working with Sharon Levy and her team to bring this story to life.”

“We couldn’t think of a better home to bring Waco to audiences than Spike TV,” said Glasser. “They are great collaborators dedicated to groundbreaking content, and we are excited to share the riveting stories behind this harrowing event. We look forward to many more partnerships with them in the future.”

“With so many voices in television right now, it’s vital that we’ve found a team truly passionate about the material,” said Spanjian and Malloy. “From the Dowdles, who spent more than three years researching the true story and were able to bring Shannon and Kitsch into the fold. It’s a joy to be working with Spike on another series and we could not be more excited.”

“The dramatic events in Waco captivated the nation, and we are thrilled to partner with Weinstein Television and an all-star cast and production team to bring this incredible story to life,” added Sharon Levy, the executive VP of original series at Spike.