The great thing about being Ron Howard (aside from that sweet beard pictured above) is that when one of your projects gets shot down, you don’t have to worry about whether or not you’ll land on your feet. Case in point: only one day removed from Universal passing on his ambitious adaptation of Stephen King’s The Dark Tower, the Oscar-winning director has already landed another gig. Per Deadline, Howard will join forces with Oscar-winning screenwriter Dustin Lance Black (Milk) on Warner Bros. adaptation of the Jon Krakauer novel Under the Banner of Heaven: A Story of Violent Faith. Briefly, Heaven tells the story of a pair of brothers who murder their younger brother’s wife and infant daughter only to claim they were acting on orders from God.
Howard will also co-produce the pic alongside his Imagine cohort Brian Grazer. Jason Bateman, Stephanie Davis, and Shannon Costello will co-produce as well. In addition to Heaven, you may remember that Howard also has Rush starring Chris Hemsworth and a Spy vs. Spy adaptation waiting in the wings. As for Black, he penned the script for director Clint Eastwood’s J. Edgar starring Leonardo DiCaprio, Naomi Watts, Armie Hammer, and Josh Lucas. Warner Bros. releases that pic on October 21st. For more on Heaven, hit the jump for a synopsis of Krakauer’s novel.
Here a synopsis/review for Jon Krakauer’s Under the Banner of Heaven [from Amazon]:
In 1984, Ron and Dan Lafferty murdered the wife and infant daughter of their younger brother Allen. The crimes were noteworthy not merely for their brutality but for the brothers’ claim that they were acting on direct orders from God. In Under the Banner of Heaven, Jon Krakauer tells the story of the killers and their crime but also explores the shadowy world of Mormon fundamentalism from which the two emerged. The Mormon Church was founded, in part, on the idea that true believers could speak directly with God. But while the mainstream church attempted to be more palatable to the general public by rejecting the controversial tenet of polygamy, fundamentalist splinter groups saw this as apostasy and took to the hills to live what they believed to be a righteous life. When their beliefs are challenged or their patriarchal, cult-like order defied, these still-active groups, according to Krakauer, are capable of fighting back with tremendous violence.
While Krakauer’s research into the history of the church is admirably extensive, the real power of the book comes from present-day information, notably jailhouse interviews with Dan Lafferty. Far from being the brooding maniac one might expect, Lafferty is chillingly coherent, still insisting that his motive was merely to obey God’s command. Krakauer’s accounts of the actual murders are graphic and disturbing, but such detail makes the brothers’ claim of divine instruction all the more horrifying. In an age where Westerners have trouble comprehending what drives Islamic fundamentalists to kill, Jon Krakauer advises us to look within America’s own borders.
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“The great thing about being Ron Howard (aside from that sweet beard pictured above) is that when one of your projects gets shot down, you don’t have to worry about whether or not you’ll land on your feet. ”
Jason, can you be responsible for any/all jokes that will appear on Collider from now on.
Ron Howard and Richard Dreyfuss starred in American Graffiti, one of the coolest old car movies ever, made by George Lucas of Star Wars fame, interestingly enough.
http://ginaleskinpeel.org
This is more like a Ron Howard movie…The Dark Tower was beyond his ability to master
Under the Banner of Heaven is NOT a novel. It is a true. The Mormons believe that some sins can only be cleansed with the spilling of blood (this is why Utah still offers the firing squad). The day this is done, in which the murderer is official sanctioned is July 24, or Pioneer Day. I lived in Utah for three years, and Enjoyed it and have lots of Mormon friends, however while most would never do these acts some still do, and will quietly these acts will be accepted if there is cause. I have a really good friend, who was attacked for days by a sociopath who justified his actions because she ‘acted like a slut’. Hard to do about someone who was a teenage virgin. This is part of the Dark side of the LDS. I will never vote for Mormon. They never ever renounce these parts of there faith. To do so would prevent them from going to heaven with its millions of celestial wives they get to screw for eternity. SICK
You are 100% wrong in your statements about Mormon beliefs. I won’t argue with what you thought you learned about The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints while you lived in Utah, but you need to know that you are absolutely mistaken in your statements. Cleansing sins by spilling blood? Firing squads? Attacking people? Screwing celestial wives? You don’t have a single clue what you’re talking about. Not a single LDS belief has anything to do with that garbage you’re spewing.
No, Jon. You are mistaken. Blood Atonement, the taking of a convicted’s blood to assuage a crime was a doctrine put in place by Brigham Young and was never renounced. It’s exactly why Utah has a firing squad. Mormon’s still believe in polygamy. It’s just they believe it will happen only for the most “righteous” after they die. Mormon’s will never be able to outrun the crazy doctrines their church was founded on, no matter how much its current leaders try to whitewash it.
Russ, please continue. Please teach me more about the doctrine I believe in (I am an extremely devout Mormon and do not believe in any of those things). It seems that all the years of study, introspection, and work to determine what I believe in has left me in need of your internet researched expertise.
It’s unfortunate that we can’t outrun the crazy interpretations of shallowly researched conclusions from people bent on insulting a person’s beliefs.
Russ,
Blood atonement has not been taught or practiced in any form since the 19th century by the LDS church, and it has been renounced by the church. No one believes this in the Mormon church today. I have known thousands of Mormons in my lifetime and never met someone in the church who has believed this. There is support by many for capital punishment but it has nothing to do with a belief that a person is somehow atoning for their sins. Mormons who do support capital punishment have beliefs that are no different than most in the modern conservative movement who support capital punishment. And there’s a very large segment of the LDS population who doesn’t support capital punishment.
There is also nothing in Mormon theology that requires a firing squad to be used for the death penalty. Utah has stopped using firing squads, though there are a couple death row inmates left who can still elect to use it since they were convicted before the law changed. There was a guy a year or two ago who decided to use this method. But it wasn’t the state or the Mormon church forcing him to do this. Before long, these inmates will be gone and the practice will be stopped completely. There is absolutely no movement within the Mormon church in Utah or anywhere else to reinstate firing squads.
You’re assumption that my understanding of Mormon theology was based on Internet research is way off base. In fact, I was a devoted Mormon for decades. In Gospel Doctrine classes I attended/taught, most of the congregation simply believed in the Church without understanding it and/or its founding principles. I see that you are one of “them”. From your zeal, I’m guessing that you are either a new convert or recently re-discovered your faith. Either way, your understanding of Church History and Doctrine is about an inch deep.
You have failed to prove my original point. The origins of the Church are completely suspect and, as one who proclaims in the exclusive access to the tokens of the priesthood of God, you cannot outrun its history.
The Church has not disavowed these practices completely. Instead, it has either de-emphasised them or delayed them until after death. Whether you believe in them or teach them is irrelevant. The Church you have devoted your life to has not. And, you either believe in the Church, or you don’t. Do you have the right to pick and choose what may or may not be palatable to your modern sensibilities?
Jeremy, are you saying that the Church does not teach that polygamy shall be practiced in the highest levels of the Celestial Kingdom? How can you disavow what is still considered doctrine, whether emphasized or not, and yet hold belief in the only “true” church on Earth?
You simply cannot. So fish or cut bait. Either you’re a Mormon and you accept what is their doctrine and proclaim it loudly, or you free yourself from the obviously created dogma of a power-hungry pedophile.
Jon, I am also a lifelong Mormon and I understand where you are coming from, most members of the church are surprised when they learn of things like this. Blood atonement was taught by BY and practiced in Utah during his presidency of the church. That doctrine is not taught anymore, but you can read about it in the journal of discourses. Look in D&C it says that some sins are not easily forgiven, I don’t believe that refers to the need for a more broken heart or more contrite spirit than what is required for repentence from other sins.
I’m familiar with the events that you are referencing and have not found myself surprised at some of the more odd events in church history. My beliefs are centered on the doctrine of Christ and not church history, so there’s nothing to be scared of.
What really gets under my skin is when people who explain what they think is Mormon doctrine with the intent to make them seem bizarre and crazy insist that I believe in things in the way they explain them. These people are not qualified to explain Mormon doctrine, and I do not belief, teach, or practice the doctrines explained by these people. Screwing celestial wives? Not part of the doctrine I believe or teach. Polygamy? Not part of the doctrine I teach or practice. Assuaging crime with the convicted’s blood? Not even close to what I teach or practice. Firing squads? Ridiculous.
If you really want to know what Mormons believe and practice, you’re welcome to attend as many meetings as you like and see for yourself. I promise you’ll find exactly what you are looking for whether its good or bad. That seems to be the case in life.
For those not familiar with Mormon doctrine, don’t be fooled by apologists. Yes, the Church has moved away from their more bizarre and unsettling dogma in the last several years, but they cannot divorce themselves from it and their history completely. Their own doctrine still preaches polygamy, but they have since modified it to only exist after they die and for those who ascend to the highest level of heaven. Yes, levels of heaven. Decades from now, even that doctrine will be whitewashed away and they will only believe in one level of heaven in their never ending pursuit to mainstream.
I remember going through the Mormon temple right before my mission. It was the last year (1990) that they did the really bizarre rituals where I had to simulate slicing open my belly if I ever divulged the “tokens of the priesthood”. They changed the ceremony to make it more palatable and people who had never been to the previous one couldn’t believe that it ever happened that way. It was insidious how they made a concerted effort to blunt the true origins and doctrine of the original founders.
Krakauer’s book is spot on. So spot on that it made everyone in the Mormon community quite uncomfortable. Ron Howard better not pull any punches.
Russ,
You seem very intent upon proving and resolving something. Not everything you claim is doctrinally correct and even those that are technically correct are spun in a very unflattering light.
I am a convert to Mormonism. It is THE BEST thing that has happened in my life. It pointed me to the Messiah and helps me daily improve my life. There are some doctrines that are cryptic and hard to understand in our 21st century eyes. A quick read of the Old Testament will produce similar head scratching.
I am not afraid of this movie, although I am unfamiliar with the storyline. Do with it what you will, Ron Howard. You have this Mormon’s permission.
My only hope is that those who might be interested in investigating the merits of the LDS religion, will not be dissuaded by those who clearly have a bad taste in their mouth and clearly have an axe to grind.
GBY.
DC
I know plenty of Aethiests, Catholics, Prtestants, etc individuals that have extreme views and if pushed could commit heinious crimes. The isolated acts of individuals do not reflect on the Good or beleives or Tenents of the whole. Too bad we are so quick to jump to conclusions based on limited experiences.
Any person wanting to see what is taught in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints need only to visit Sunday services, and read the Standard Works (Holy Bible KJV, Book of Mormon, Doctrine and Covenants, Pearl of Great Price). Don’t take another’s word for it. See for yourself. I did, 35 years ago. I was converted then and I haven’t regretted one minute of it.
‘Mormon Fundamentalists’ may call themselves Mormon, but they do not reflect the faith and practices of the LDS Church today. They are not part of the LDS Church.
Former members of the Church, no matter that they went to the temple while members, are, by definition, not currently members of the Church, and therefore neither represent the Church nor its teachings. It is curious that one can leave the Church, but apparently one cannot leave it alone.