Tony- and Grammy-winning actor and singer Leslie Odom Jr. is set to adapt the August 2024 Rolling Stone article ‘Dance With the Devil’ by Alex Bhattacharji into a horror feature, in which he will also star.
The article explores Sammy Davis Jr.’s unexpected connection to Anton LaVey and the Church of Satan, examining what drew the iconic entertainer into LaVey’s world. The film, a partnership with Rolling Stone Films, will focus on the unlikely friendship between Davis and LaVey, exploring themes of racial and sexual identity, politics, religion, pop culture and counterculture. Describing the story, Bhattacharji said, “Dance With the Devil is a sensitive tale about a profoundly alienated Davis and his search for acceptance.”
The announcement follows Odom’s return to Hamilton for a limited run, which saw a 76 percent increase in weekly box office grosses and culminated in the musical’s largest 10-year Broadway gross. Odom originated the role of Aaron Burr, winning a Tony Award and a Grammy for his performance.
Odom’s film credits include playing Sam Cooke in Regina King’s ‘One Night in Miami’, earning an Oscar nomination, roles in ‘Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery’, ‘The Many Saints of Newark’ and ‘The Exorcist: Believer’, as well as voice work in Apple TV+’s Central Park, which earned him an Emmy nomination.
With this new project, Odom continues to bridge music, theatre and film, turning a provocative real-life story into a cinematic horror experience.
