Melissa Benoist is killing it on Supergirl. For that reason, the actress will be temporarily trading in her cape for Kool-Aid to take part in another television series set to air in 2018. Benoist will be joined by actress Julia Garner as the two look to star in a miniseries based on true life events Waco.
Waco looks to tell a story behind and about the 1993 raid by the FBI and ATF on the compound of The Branch Davidians in Waco, Texas. The real life event ended in tragedy as cult leader David Koresh and 76 others would lose their lives in a 51-day standoff. The series, which is currently in production in Sante Fe, New Mexico, looks to tell the story of the event from the perspective of several characters on both sides of the encounter. The six-part series will air in 2018 on Paramount Network, which will be a new premium service beginning in January.
Melissa Benoist will play the role of the legal wife of David Koresh, Rachel Koresh. Rachel Koresh was considered the matriarch of the compound Mount Carmel, and believed that David Koresh was the Messiah. The two would meet through The Branch Davidians before Koresh (then known as Vernon Howell) became the leader of the cult. Rachel would marry David following his "prophecy" from God saying it should happen, and the two would eventually take control of the cult in the early 90's. Rachel Koresh would perish in the 1993 raid.
Julia Garner will share screen time alongside Melissa Benoist as she takes on the role of Rachel Koresh's younger sister in Waco, Michelle Jones. Jones, who was 18 at the time of the compound raid, would die as well. Like her sister Rachel Koresh, Michelle Jones would also give birth to a child by David. Garner joins the miniseries fresh off a series regular role in the upcoming Netflix series Ozark.
Both Melissa Benoist and Julia Garner sound like excellent additions to Waco, which will air on Paramount Network in January 2018. It will certainly be an interesting series to watch, as there are so many conspiracy theories and different stories regarding what happened during the raid.
While we wait for more updates or a trailer for the series, don't forget that Melissa Benoist will be back as Supergirl April 24th at 8 p.m. ET on The CW. As we head into the latter half of season, be sure to keep an eye on what's staying and going via our renewal schedule and also keep an eye on what's ahead via our summer premiere schedule.
