Oscar-winner Leonardo DiCaprio is in final talks to star in and produce a feature biopic about infamous cult leader Jim Jones from writer Scott Rosenberg.

Known as the leader of the Peoples Temple religious group, Jones was behind the November 1978 mass suicide at his Jonestown settlement that took more than 900 lives. Jones and his inner circle orchestrated the massacre at the jungle commune in Guyana, with the followers directed to drink cyanide-adulterated punch.

MGM scooped up rights to the film, which was penned by Scott Rosenberg, a writer on the first "Venom" film from 2018, as well as "Jumanji: Next Level" Deadline has reported a seven-figure deal for the acquisition. Rosenberg is also set to executive-produce "Jim Jones".

An Oscar winner for Best Actor for "The Revenant", DiCaprio will produce "Jim Jones" for his Appian Way company alongside president of production Jennifer Davisson.

DiCaprio is no stranger to taking on real-life figures with criminally immoral pasts. The actor previously captivated audiences in 2002's Catch Me If You Can as Frank Abagnale Jr., the prolific con man who scammed millions of dollars by posing as a Pan Am pilot. He also notably portrayed Jordan Belfort, the high-flying stock broker who later pleaded guilty to fraud, in 2013's The Wolf of Wall Street.

Source: Press Release