The Big Bang Theory’s Jim Parsons has joined the cast of an upcoming true crime thriller based on the notorious Heaven’s Gate cult.
Character details for the sitcom star’s role are currently under wraps.
However, he’ll be joining the previously announced Tim Blake Nelson and Vera Farmiga who will star as UFO cult leaders Marshall Herff Applewhite and Bonnie Lu Nettles.
Throughout Heaven’s Gate’s activity from 1974-1997, the group persuaded 100s of followers to drop out of society and abandon their families, led by the belief they would transcend their earthly bodies to reach the ‘Next Level’.
Their teachings culminated in 39 people taking their lives on March 1997, including Applewhite, which is still the largest mass suicide ever committed in the US.
Supporting cast includes Simon Rex, Grace Caroline Currey, Matthew Glave, William Mapother, JB Yowell, Kelly Lynn Reiter, Danielle Vasinova, Blake Robbins, Jana Gallagher, Paten Hughes, Molly Robbins, and Jill Winternitz.
Dexter star Michael C Hall was also confirmed to have joined the cast shortly after The Leader was first announced during the Berlin Film Festival in February 2023.
Lead actor Nelson coincidentally portrayed supervillain Samuel Sterns, aka the Leader, in this year’s Marvel blockbuster Captain America: Brave New World.
Writer-director Michael Gallagher said of Parsons’ addition: “Jim Parsons’ mesmerizing, tour-de-force performance will leave audiences with their jaws on the floor.
“We are beyond grateful to have Jim join our phenomenal cast of award-winning actors in this stunning dramatic turn.”
Outside of The Big Bang Theory, which concluded with its 12th season in 2019, Parsons has most recently been seen on Broadway in the Tony-nominated Our Town.
He has also scored roles in Ryan Murphy’s Netflix series Hollywood and the romantic-comedy-drama Spoiler Alert.
The comedy star will next be seen on the big screen in Andy Serkis’ animated adaptation of George Orwell’s Animal Farm, starring Seth Rogen and Glenn Close.
He’ll be portraying Carl, a sheep, as well as the rest of his flock alongside an all-star voice cast which also includes Stranger Things’ Gaten Matarazzo, Succession’s Kieran Culkin, Steve Buscemi, Laverne Cox and Woody Harrelson.
A release date for The Leader is yet to be confirmed.
The Big Bang Theory is available to stream on Netflix.