«Under the Banner of Heaven» is an American true crime drama TV miniseries created by Dustin Lance Black.
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- Under the Banner of Heaven: A Story of Violent Faith is a nonfiction book by author Jon Krakauer, first published in July 2003.
- He investigated and juxtaposed two histories: the origin and evolution of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church) and a modern double murder committed in the name of God by brothers Ron and Dan Lafferty, who subscribed to a fundamentalist version of Mormonism.
- The Laffertys were formerly members of a very small splinter group called the School of Prophets, led by Robert C. Crossfield (also known by his prophet name Onias).
- The group accepts many beliefs of the original LDS church at the time when it ceased the practice of polygamy in the 1890s.
- It does not identify with those who call themselves fundamentalist Mormons.
- The book examines the ideologies of both the LDS Church and the fundamentalist Mormon polygamous groups, such as the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints (FLDS Church).
- The book was adapted as a limited series of the same name that began airing in April 2022 on FX on Hulu.
- Andrew Garfield and Gil Birmingham star as two detectives investigating a brutal murder seemingly connected to Mormonism.
- The series, while reigniting controversy in the Mormon faith, received praise from critics.
- The series is based on the real-life 1984 murder of Brenda Lafferty.
- The town of Rockwell is fictional, and the real Lafferty case occurred in the town of American Fork, Utah.
- This is the second religious/cult themed project Rory Culkin has been in, the first being Waco.
- The show marks the second collaboration between Andrew Garfield and Sam Worthington after Hacksaw Ridge (2016).
- The disused Didsbury (Alberta) fire hall doubled as East Rockwell police station
- Andrew Garfield’s characters house was filmed at McCrimmon Drive in Carstairs, Alberta.
- Andrew Garfield and Denise Gough previously starred together in The National Theatres production of “Angels in America”
- Motel 3 in Strathmore, Alberta was used as Motorway Motel
- Didsbury (Alberta) library was used as the location for Rockwell town hall
- Though not explained in the series, Dan and Ron were both convicted of murder. Dan was sentenced to two consecutive life sentences. Ron’s case is more complex. He attempted to commit suicide while in custody in 1984, resulting in some brain damage. The court initially ruled him competent to stand trial and he was convicted. An appeals court later found that he was incompetent to stand trial and he was sent to a mental hospital for treatment. In 1996, he was once again found competent to stand trial and was convicted. After a few more failed appeals, Ron was sentenced to death, but he died of natural causes in 2019, shortly before the sentence was to be carried out.
- The series is also available on Disney+.
