Steven Culp in "Waco"

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Waco's plot synopsis: "WACO is a brand new 6-part series from Paramount Network based on the true story that shocked the world of religious leader David Koresh's Branch Davidian compound in Waco, Texas in 1993."

Waco stars Taylor Kitsch, Michael Shannon, John Leguizamo, Melissa Benoist, Shea Whigham, Julia Garner, Andrea Riseborough, Camryn Manheim, Paul Sparks, Steven Culp, and Rory Culkin.

Waco will begin to air on Paramount Network in January 2018.

(September 28, 2017, film-book.com, by Rollo Tomasi)

(April 24, 2017, deadline.com, by Denise Petski) 'Waco': Camryn Manheim, Eric Lange Among 5 Cast In Event Series For Par Network The Practice alumna Camryn Manheim, Eric Lange (Narcos), Annika Marks (The Fosters), Steven Culp (Bosch) and Sarah Minnich (Better Call Saul) have joined the cast of Waco, the six-part event series that will be part of the inaugural slate launching Viacom's Paramount Network in January 2018. Produced by Weinstein Television, the series chronicles the 1993 standoff between the FBI and ATF and the Branch Davidians, a spiritual sect led by David Koresh, told from several perspectives of those most intimately involved in both sides of the conflict. Filming is underway in Santa Fe, NM. Manheim will play Balenda Thibodeau, the mother of David Thibodeau, one of Koresh's close followers within the compound. Lange will portray local radio shock jock Ron Engelman. Marks is Kathy Schroder, one of Koresh's loyal followers. Culp will play FBI agent Jeff Jamar, who served as the siege commander during Waco. Minnich will portray Sharon Wheeler, spokeswoman for the ATF. They join previously cast Michael Shannon, Taylor Kitsch, Melissa Benoist, Julia Garner, John Leguizamo, Andrea Riseborough, Rory Culkin, Paul Sparks and Shea Whigham. Waco is written by John Erick Dowdle and Drew Dowdle (No Escape), Salvatore Stabile and Sarah Nicole Jones. Four episodes will be directed by John Erick Dowdle with two directed by Dennie Gordon. Shannon, Kitsch, the Dowdle brothers and Stabile are executive producers of the series along with TWC co-chairmen Harvey Weinstein and Bob Weinstein, president and COO David Glasser, co-head of production Jennifer Malloy and head of scripted television Megan Spanjian of Weinstein Television. Manheim is an Emmy and Golden Globe winner for her role on The Practice, and she received both Emmy and Golden Globe noms for her role on CBS miniseries Elvis. She's repped by UTA, Framework Entertainment and Stone Genow. Lange is a series regular on Narcos, which releases its third season later this year. He's repped by Domain and Trademark Talent. Marks plays Monte Porter on The Fosters and recurs in the role of Bernadette on The Last Tycoon. She's repped by Talentworks and LINK Entertainment. Culp can be seen in Bosch and previously recurred on Code Black. Minnich recurred as Brenda on Better Call Saul and most recently guest-starred in Graves, From Dusk Till Dawn: The Series and Preacher.

(April 21, 2017, deadline.com, by Nellie Andreeva) Melissa Benoist & Julia Garner To Co-Star In 'Waco' Event Series For Par Network Supergirl star Melissa Benoist and Julia Garner (Grandma) have been tapped as leads opposite Michael Shannon and Taylor Kitsch in Waco, the six-part event series that will be part of the inaugural slate launching Viacom's Paramount Network in January 2018. Produced by Weinstein Television, the series — based on the true story of the 51-day standoff in Waco, Texas that resulted in a deadly fire — is currently filming in Santa Fe, NM. Waco chronicles the 1993 standoff between the FBI, ATF and David Koresh's spiritual sect, The Branch Davidians, told from several perspectives of those most intimately involved in both sides of the conflict. Benoist will portray Rachel Koresh, the legal wife of Branch Davidian leader Koresh (Kitsch) and considered the matriarch of Mount Carmel. Garner plays Michelle Jones, Rachel's younger sister who also had a child with Koresh. In addition to Shannon and Kitsch, Benoist and Garner, the Waco cast includes John Leguizamo, Andrea Riseborough, Rory Culkin, Paul Sparks and Shea Whigham. Waco is written by John Erick Dowdle and Drew Dowdle (No Escape), Salvatore Stabile and Sarah Nicole Jones. Four episodes will be directed by John Erick Dowdle with two directed by Dennie Gordon. Shannon, Kitsch, the Dowdle brothers and Stabile are executive producers of the series along with TWC co-chairmen Harvey Weinstein and Bob Weinstein, president and COO David Glasser, co-head of production Jennifer Malloy, and head of scripted television Megan Spanjian of Weinstein Television. Benoist, last seen in Peter Berg's Patriots Day, will next star in the Jason Blum- and Brian Grazer-produced Universal Studios film Lowriders and recently wrapped production on the feature Sun Dogs. Garner recently completed production as a series regular on the upcoming Netflix drama Ozark and will next be seen on the big screen in Liz Garcia's One Percent More Humid, which premieres at the Tribeca Film Festival. Benoist and Garner are repped by Anonymous Content and UTA.

(March 27, 2017 deatline.com, by Denise Petski) 'Waco': Andrea Riseborough, Rory Culkin, Paul Sparks & Shea Whigham Join Cast Andrea Riseborough (Birdman), Rory Culkin (You Can Count on Me), Paul Sparks and Shea Whigham has been cast opposite Michael Shannon and Taylor Kitsch in Waco, a six-part event series produced by Weinstein TV, set to air on Paramount Network in 2018. Production begins next month in Santa Fe, New Mexico. Written by John Erick Dowdle and Drew Dowdle (No Escape) and directed by John Erick Dowdle, Waco tells the story of the 51-day 1993 standoff between the FBI, ATF and David Koresh's spiritual sect, The Branch Davidians, in Waco, Texas, that resulted in a deadly fire. It explores the true life details leading up to and chronicling the standoff told from several perspectives of those most intimately involved in both sides of the conflict. Riseborough will play Judy, wife of Steve Schneider (Sparks), who reluctantly sacrifices her marriage to show devotion to David Koresh. Schneider was one of David Koresh's closest confidants and supporters but becomes deeply conflicted once his wife announces she's pregnant with Koresh's child. Culkin will portray David Thibodeau, a young musician who joins David Koresh's band. Though initially reluctant to join Koresh, he eventually undergoes a dramatic evolution from an agnostic to a true believer. Whigham will play the tactical commander of the FBI, known within the Bureau for his bravado. In addition to Shannon and Kitsch they join previously cast John Leguizamo. Riseborough will next starr in features Battle of the Sexes, Burden, The Death of Stalin and Mindhorn. Her TV credits include miniseries National Treasure and Netflix's Bloodline. She's repped by CAA, Untitled Entertainment and Independent Talent Group. Culkin was most recently seen in Columbus which premiered at the Sundance Film Festival. He recently wrapped production on Lords of Chaos and Unchained. Culkin is repped by Paradigm and Brookside Artist Management. Known for his roles in HBO's Boardwalk Empire and Netflix's House of Cards, Sparks recently wrapped production on The Greatest Showman for 20th Century Fox and Thoroughbred, which just premiered at Sundance and will be distributed by Focus Features. He's repped by Randi Goldstein at Gersh NY and One Entertainment. Whigham is best known for his role as Eli Thompson on HBO's Boardwalk Empire and currently recurs in Fargo and Vice Principals. Additional upcoming film projects include Netflix's Death Note, High Wire Act and LAbyrinth. He's repped by CAA and Principal Entertainment.

(March 24, 2017, deadline.com, by Denise Petski) 'Waco': John Leguizamo Cast In Event Series From Weinstein TV John Leguizamo has been cast opposite Michael Shannon and Taylor Kitsch in Waco, a six-part event series produced by Weinstein TV, set to air on Paramount Network in 2018. Production begins next month in Santa Fe, NM. Written by John Erick Dowdle and Drew Dowdle (No Escape) and directed by John Erick Dowdle, Waco tells the story of the 51-day 1993 standoff between the FBI, ATF and David Koresh's spiritual sect, The Branch Davidians, in Waco, Texas, that resulted in a deadly fire. It explores the true life details leading up to and chronicling the standoff told from several perspectives of those most intimately involved in both sides of the conflict. Leguizamo will play ATF agent Robert Rodriguez. Rodriguez was sent into Koresh's Mount Carmel to gather evidence and build a federal case against the Branch Davidians but forged a bond with the people inside. Leguizamo was most recently cast in a co-starring role opposite Allison Miller in ABC's drama pilot Salamander. He also recently co-starred on the Netflix drama series Bloodline and reprised his roles in the latest installments of the John Wick and Ice Age movie franchises. He is repped by UTA, Silver Lining Entertainment and attorneys Jason Sloane and Jim Gilio. "We are thrilled to have John in this part. He brings phenomenal range and authenticity to everything he does," says Ted Gold, Senior Vice President, Scripted Original Series for Paramount. "The role of Robert Rodriguez is little known, but utterly fascinating as he was the only undercover agent to infiltrate David Koresh's compound." Shannon, Kitsch, the Dowdle brothers and Salvatore Stabile will executive produce along with TWC Co-Chairmen Harvey Weinstein and Bob Weinstein, President and COO David Glasser, Co-head of Production Jennifer Malloy, and Head of Scripted Television Megan Spanjian of Weinstein Television. Gold and Lauren Ruggiero, Vice President, Scripted Programming, will oversee the project for Paramount.

(October 26, 2016, deadline.com, by Patrick Hipes) Spike TV Lands 'Waco' Event Series From Weinstein TV Spike TV has picked up rights to Waco, the Weinstein Television event series that will star Michael Shannon and Taylor Kitsch as David Koresh. The planned six-parter is based on the true story of the 1993 FBI siege of Koresh's Branch Davidians compound near Waco, Texas that ended in a deadly shootout and fire at the conclusion of a 51-day standoff. John Erick Dowdle and Drew Dowdle penned the script and John Erick Dowdle will direct. The series, announced over the summer, will go into production next spring. It will explore the true life details leading up to and chronicling the siege between the FBI, the ATF and the religious sect, told from several perspectives of those involved. The series is based on two biographies: A Place Called Waco, by Branch Davidian survivor David Thibodeau, 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 will portray Noesner. Shannon, Kitsch and the Dowdles are executive producing with TWC co-chairmen Harvey Weinstein and Bob Weinstein, president and COO David Glasser, and Weinstein TV Co-Head of Production Jennifer Malloy and Head of Scripted Television Megan Spanjian. Spike TV EVP Original Series Sharon Levy, SVP Scripted Original Series Ted Gold and VP Scripted Programing Lauren Ruggiero will oversee the project for Spike. "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," Levy said in the release announcing the deal. Added Harvey Weinstein: "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."

(August 30, 2016, deadline.com, by Erik Pedersen) Michael Shannon & Taylor Kitsch Topline Weinstein Co. Series 'Waco', Based On 1993 Siege The Weinstein Company is developing a TV series about the 1993 Branch Davidian siege in Waco, Texas, and has set Michael Shannon and Taylor Kitsch to star. Brothers John Erick Dowdle and Drew Dowdle will write the series with the former directing. Shannon will play lead FBI negotiator Gary Noesner, and Kitsch is set as David Koresh, notorious leader of the religious group that was holed up in their compound for nearly two months. The pair will executive produce along with the Dowdle brothers. The series, which TWC expects to shop out to networks starting next month, explores the true-life events leading up to and chronicling the 51-day siege between the FBI, ATF and Koresh's sect. It will be told from several perspectives of those most intimately involved on both sides of the conflict. The series will be based largely on two biographies: A Place Called Waco by David Thibodeau, a Branch Davidian who is one of the nine survivors of the fire that ended the siege on April 19, 1993, and Stalling For Time: My Life as an FBI Negotiator by Noesner, the FBI's Special Agent in Charge of Negotiations during the ordeal.