00:00Hamilton Star is turning a shocking article about Sammy Davis Jr.'s past into a movie.
00:06A 2024 Rolling Stone piece linked a TV pilot by the iconic performer to a controversial church.
00:13Sammy Davis Jr. was widely known during his reign as the world's greatest entertainer.
00:18His legacy lives on in many ways, but as recently as last year, a head-turning.
00:24Rolling Stone article was published that seemingly linked a unique TV pilot.
00:27Davis shot back in the 1970s, too, of all things The Church of Satan.
00:33And now, a renowned entertainer who is currently in his reign, Leslie Odom Jr., is set to adapt the shocking journalistic piece,
00:42titled Dance with the Devil, by Alex Bhattacharji, into a horror movie, Deadline Reports.
00:47The Tony and Grammy winner, 44, acquired screen rights to the article,
00:51which explores Davis' unlikely connection to Church of Satan founder Anton LaVey and the organization itself, according to Deadline.
00:59The story follows what drew Davis into that world and the overlap between the iconic entertainer and one of America's most controversial figures.
01:08The article is a sensitive story about a profoundly alienated Davis and his search for acceptance, Bhattacharji said, per Deadline.
01:18It's a rollicking ride that touches on complex, timely issues, racial and sexual identity.
01:24Politics, religion, pop culture, and the counterculture.
01:27Davis' experience with Satanism has long lurked in the margins of his story.
01:33Despite later efforts to excise and minimize it, reads an excerpt from Bhattacharji's sprawling article.
01:39The reality is that he maintained a two-decade-long connection that extended to the waning days of his life,
01:46and forged a friendship with LaVey, the Church of Satan's leader.
01:50Odom, meanwhile, has also been busy on stage with Hamilton,
01:53and thanks to his glorious return, ticket prices were pushed to record breaking levels back in September.
01:59The one night in Miami, actor originated the role of Aaron Burr in Hamilton's original production,
02:04appeared in the filmed version now streaming on Disney+,
02:07and returned for the beloved musical's 10th anniversary run.
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