Leslie Odom, Jr. is set to both adapt and star in a new horror feature inspired by the August 2024 Rolling Stone article, “Dance With the Devil” by Alex Bhattacharji. The story delves into the surprising connection between legendary entertainer Sammy Davis Jr. and Anton LaVey, founder of the Church of Satan.
Odom has secured the screen rights to the piece, which examines what drew Davis into LaVey’s world and explores the fascinating overlap between the beloved performer and one of America’s most controversial figures. The project is being developed in partnership with Rolling Stone Films.
According to the project synopsis: “How a TV pilot called Poor Devil begat a friendship between the performer, Sammy Davis Jr., and Anton Szandor LaVey, founder and high priest of the Church of Satan.” The article details how Davis, briefly involved with the Church of Satan, formed a friendship with LaVey through the pilot, which centered on a demon working in hell. While Davis described the experience as “judgment-free” and a place where he felt accepted, his involvement was brief, and he eventually returned to his Jewish faith.
The announcement follows Odom’s highly celebrated return to Hamilton, reprising his Tony-winning role as Aaron Burr. His engagement saw a 76% increase in weekly box office grosses, and the production reached its highest-ever Broadway gross during his limited run.
With this new project, Odom is once again poised to combine his star power and storytelling vision, bringing a lesser-known but compelling chapter of entertainment history to the screen.