Focus Features is developing Rachel Maddow’s Bag Man as a feature film directed by Ben Stiller. Bag Man is based on Rachel Maddow’s podcast about the true story of one of the most blatant political bribery scandals in American history, which happened before the country while no one was paying attention. Is it possible for an American vice president to undertake a criminal enterprise within the White House and no one remembers?
The Peabody de Maddow nominated podcast went back 45 years to delve into a story that was overshadowed in its day. There is intrigue. Corruption. Money envelopes delivered to the White House. It is a story that is not well known, but it probably should be. Especially today. Bag Man.
Adam Perlman wrote the script with Ben Stiller and Mike Yarvitz. Yarvitz was the executive producer of the podcast and co-wrote the subsequent book with Maddow. Lorne Michaels, Stiller, Mike Yarvitz and Josh McLaughlin will be the producers. Executive producers are Nicky Weinstock, Michael Price, Erin David, Andrew Singer and Rachel Maddow.
Stiller is quitting his Emmy-nominated work on the limited Showtime series Escape at Dannemora. He is currently developing several projects, including the Lionsgate photo London with Oscar Isaac attached to the star. Perlman opened his teeth in the TV world in the last decade working on critically acclaimed works as Billion and The good wife. He is currently with several projects in development, including an untitled TV series with Team Downey.
Stiller is represented by WME and 3 Arts Entertainment and Perlman is represented by Gersh and Brillstein Entertainment Partners.