Deadline reports that Daredevil alum Vincent D’Onofrio has been tapped to portray the role of the late Jerry Falwell in Fox Searchlight’s forthcoming biopic drama film The Eyes of Tammy Faye. Jerry Falwell was known as an American Southern Baptist pastor, televangelist and conservative activist, who died in 2007 at the age of 73 due to cardiac arrhythmia.
In addition, Sam Jaeger (Parenthood), Gabriel Olds (Surrogates), Mark Wystrach (Johnny Christ), Chandler Head, and Fredric Lehne have also been cast for the film, portraying the roles of Roe Messner, Pat Robertson, Gary Paxton, young Tammy Faye, and Fred Grover, respectively.
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Based on Fenton Bailey and Randy Barbato’s documentary of the same name, the film tells the extraordinary and outlandish rise, fall and redemption of televangelists Jim and Tammy Faye Bakker. In the 1970s and ’80s, the Bakkers created the world’s largest religious broadcasting network and a theme park, and were revered for their message of love, acceptance and prosperity. Before long, the couple’s financial improprieties, scheming rivals, and sexual scandal tore their marriage apart and toppled their faith-based empire.
The Eyes of Tammy Faye will star Academy Award-nominated actors Jessica Chastain (The Help) as Tammy Faye Bakker and Andrew Garfield (The Social Network) along with Emmy winner Cherry Jones (The Handmaid’s Tale) as Tammy’s mother Rachel.
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The Eyes of Tammy Faye will be directed by Michael Showalter (The Big Sick) from a script by Abe Sylvia. In addition to starring, Chastain will produce along with her producing partner Kelly Carmichael through their Freckle Films production banner. Also producing are Gigi Pritzker and Rachel Shane through their Madison Wells Media. Jordana Mollick will serve as executive producer. She’s also currently collaborating with Showalter on a comedy set to star Octavia Spencer.
