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Taylor Kitsch to play religious cult leader David Koresh in Weinstein Co. limited series 'Waco'

By Daphne Planca | Sep 03, 2016 09:23 PM EDT
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"Friday Night Lights" star Taylor Kitsch is set to play the religious cult leader David Koresh in Weinstein Co. limited series "Waco." Weinstein Television is preparing a star-studded dramatization on the 1993 Waco, Texas siege and the Branch Davidian standoff.

Kitsch will play the role of the Branch Davidian leader David Koresh in the 1993 "Waco" film. Koresh is responsible for the massacre of 80 of his followers in Waco, Texas. He believed that he was the final prophet of the Branch Davidians religious sect in 1993, as The Independent reported. Other cast members include "Midnight Special" star Michael Shannon and "The Fast and Furious" franchise alum Ludacris. Shannon will return to the small screen for the first time since Boardwalk Empire. He will play as the lead FBI negotiator Gary Noesner. Ludacris is being eyed to play the role of Wayne Martin as a Branch Davidian member.

According to The Hollywood Reporter, the limited TV series "Waco" will be based on the traumatic true story of the 1993 FBI siege of the religious sect in Waco that resulted in a deadly shootout and fire. The 51-day standoff ended with an FBI assault on the compound, which was burned down and ultimately killed 76 people inside - including Koresh. This event series speaks directly to the heart of the current issues between citizens, law enforcement, and the media. It will be told from several perspectives of those who were involved. It will become the latest true-crime project to be developed for the small screen.

"Waco" is based on two biographies for its source material, namely, "A Place Called Waco" written by the siege survivor David Thibodeau and "Sinful Messiah" by the FBI's Special Agent in Charge of Negotiations Gary Noesner.

The Weinstein Co. plans to take the upcoming 1993 "Waco" series out to networks next month.

Watch the video of Michael Shannon and Taylor Kitsch to star in the "Waco" siege miniseries:

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