National Geographic and Hulu Debut Trailer and Announce Premiere Dates for Cult Massacre: One Day in Jonestown

(WASHINGTON, D.C. – May 23, 2024) National Geographic and Hulu announced today the premiere of the third installment of the Emmy® Award-winning, critically acclaimed franchise ONE DAY IN AMERICA with the Hulu Original CULT MASSACRE: ONE DAY IN JONESTOWN. The three-part series from Emmy Award-winning 72 Films’ executive producers David Glover and Mark Raphael, BAFTA Award-winning director Marian Mohamed, along with Academy Award®-winning filmmakers Dan Lindsay and T.J. Martin will premiere June 17 on Hulu and will air on National Geographic on Aug. 14.

CULT MASSACRE: ONE DAY IN JONESTOWN tells the story of an idealistic religious organization led by the infamous Jim Jones, who set out to establish a utopian community in Guyana. What began as a peaceful movement seeking social justice ultimately spiraled into a mass casualty that left 918 dead. Told by survivors and eyewitnesses, along with rare footage and rare recordings of Jones, the powerful series takes an immersive look into the final harrowing hours leading up to one of America’s darkest chapters.

CULT MASSACRE features first-person accounts from former Peoples Temple members, including Thom Bogue, Leslie Wagner Wilson and Yulanda Williams; former member of Congress and aide to U.S. Rep. Leo Ryan Jackie Speier; former Washington Post foreign correspondent Charles Krause; former Special Ops Air Force Sgt. David Netterville, who was among the first of three U.S. service members to enter Jonestown in the immediate aftermath of the tragedy and has never spoken about his experience for a documentary before; and Jim Jones’ son, Stephan Jones.

Each episode focuses on the hours that led up to the shocking events of Nov. 18, 1978:

THE PROMISED LAND
In the tumultuous 1970s America, Jim Jones is a charismatic church leader, preaching social justice to his growing, diverse congregation. To escape the inequities of the U.S., he sets up Jonestown, a utopian commune in the Guyanese jungle, but shocking rumors of abuse make their way to California’s Rep. Ryan and reporters. Within 24 hours of visiting, they discover their presence is unwelcome.

HOW VERY MUCH I’VE LOVED YOU
Tensions in Jonestown are at an all-time high after a knife-wielding Temple member attacks Rep. Ryan. Fearing more violence, the congressman and his group hurry out of Jonestown as quickly as possible. Some Temple members come forward to leave with the visitors, desperate for safe passage out of the remote commune. As the group attempts to leave, Jim Jones has other sinister plans.

PARADISE LOST
Shocking news of the mass murder-suicide in Jonestown reaches the U.S. The White House dispatches the Special Forces to stop the unfolding crisis and locate Jim Jones. Upon arrival, a scene of unimaginable horror confronts them, but hundreds of Jonestown residents are missing, prompting a desperate search for survivors who may have fled into the jungle.

CULT MASSACRE: ONE DAY IN JONESTOWN is produced by 72 Films for National Geographic. For 72 Films, David Glover and Mark Raphael are executive producers, and Marian Mohamed is director. For National Geographic, Carolyn Payne is executive producer, and Tom McDonald is executive vice president of Global Factual and Unscripted Content.

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About 72 Films
72 Films is an independent production company, founded by David Glover and Mark Raphael, specializing in premium documentaries which inspire, entertain, and make a positive contribution to the cultural landscape. 72 Films are behind the global phenomenon sports documentary series All or Nothing, the Emmy-award winning historical documentary 9/11: One Day in America, the headline grabbing and BAFTA winning Jimmy Saville: A British Horror Story, and international hit 007: Road to a Million.

For three years in a row 72 Films has been voted the Best Independent Television Production Company in the UK via the Televisual industry poll.

About Hulu
Hulu is the leading and most comprehensive all-in-one premium streaming service that offers an expansive slate of live and on-demand entertainment, both in and outside the home, through a wide array of subscription options that give consumers ultimate control over their viewing experience. As part of the Disney Entertainment segment, Hulu is the only on-demand offering that provides access to shows from every major U.S. broadcast network, libraries of hit TV series and films – including licensed content available exclusively on Hulu – and award-winning Hulu Originals, both with and without commercials.

With Hulu + Live TV, subscribers receive a unique combination of access to 95+ live news, entertainment and sports TV channels from 20th Television, The Walt Disney Company, ABC, NBCUniversal, CBS Corporation, The CW, Turner Networks, A+E Networks and Discovery Networks, as well as Hulu’s on-demand library, Disney+, and ESPN+ included as part of the base plan. Visit hulu.com to subscribe or learn more about the service.

 

About National Geographic Content

Award-winning and critically acclaimed National Geographic Content, part of a joint venture between The Walt Disney Company and the National Geographic Society, creates and delivers riveting stories and experiences in natural history, science, adventure and exploration. The brand is the largest on social media with over three quarters of a billion followers across all major platforms that generate over one billion impressions each month. Inspiring a deeper connection to the world, National Geographic Content reaches 300 million people worldwide in 180 countries and 33 languages as a digital, social and print publisher and across the global National Geographic channels (National Geographic Channel, Nat Geo WILD, Nat Geo MUNDO), National Geographic Documentary Films, and direct-to-consumer platforms Disney+ and Hulu. Its diverse content includes Emmy® Award-winning franchise Genius, series Life Below Zero and Secrets of the Whales, and Oscar®- and BAFTA award-winning film Free Solo. In 2022, National Geographic Content was awarded eight News and Documentary Emmys, in addition to Life Below Zero’s Emmy win for Outstanding Cinematography for a Reality Program, its sixth Emmy overall. For more information, visit natgeotv.com or nationalgeographic.com, or follow Nat Geo on Facebook, X, Instagram, YouTube and LinkedIn.

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