Liberty University Jerry Falwell, Jr. kicks off his week with some dreaded news. The disgraced Evangelical leader and his downfall will serve as the basis for a new limited series.Journalist Gabe Sherman’s Vanity Fair exposé on the couple–which ran last month and featured the participation of both Falwell and his wife, Becki–will serve as the basis for the scripted show, produced by Michael London and Shannon Gaulding of Groundswell Productions.
Sherman will adapt the article to the screen himself.“Gabe Sherman is setting out to tell the story of a great American family business, where the business is religion,” London said in a statement to Deadline. “It’s an untold story with a larger-than-life cast of characters amassing vast power and fortunes.
Yes, there’s a sex scandal, one that consumed the life of Jerry Jr and his wife Becki, but what’s most surprising is the insight and empathy that Gabe brings to their very human struggle to be true to themselves.”Related: Jerry Falwell Jr.
slapped with $30 million lawsuit over pool boy sex scandalA network or streaming service for the show has yet to be announced, though given Groundswell Productions’ relationship with the FX Network, we have a feeling it will end up there.Sherman’s article had already grabbed headlines thanks to its chronicle of the rise and fall of the Falwells, and the stunning admission that they never “had much use” for Jerry’s father, Jerry Sr.’s church.Jerry, Jr.