Movie Update
Greetings to you all! I’m long overdue to write an update, so here we go!
For two years now, I’ve been asked almost daily about the status of a movie based upon The Most Dangerous Animal Of All. As it turns out, on June 10, 2014, CBS Television Productions acquired my life right, book rights, for what was to become a two-part, 4-hour miniseries. Having sold the book rights so quickly after the release of TMDAOA, we were excited that this production would progress at a rapid pace and that we would see filming right here in Baton Rouge with an air date of June 2016.
As it turns out, the CBS EVP who championed my story to the other executives resigned from her post last year, and my project basically got orphaned. With an incredible screenplay, written by Emmy Award winning writer/director/producer Todd Robinson, we were hoping that someone inside of CBSTV would step up and sponsor the script through production.
Then in October 2015, Steven Spielberg pitched an 11-part fictional serial killer series to CBS called ‘American Gothic.’ At the time, we were out to casting to my role in the movie. The new EVP who replaced our champion chose to default on TMDAOA movie because he did not want to run two serial killer series (TMDAOA and American Gothic) in the summer of 2016. In March we began looking for another interested buyer. Although the deal has not been ‘inked’, we have a tentative agreement a studio who intends to produce a 6-8 part documentary based on TMDAOA, highlighting my research and discoveries, and all new developments in my case.
I would expect pre-production to begin within the next few weeks and filming to begin before the end of the summer. Under my contract with CBS, I was bound by a non-disclosure agreement. I’m hoping that due to the quickly approaching production schedule with our new production company, we might not be forced to be so tight-lipped.
I’ve also been made aware of a new ‘Zodiac Killer Documentary’ in the works by Discovery Channel. I have no details except that they did not contact me, which means they are either doing an old re-telling of the story or have a ‘surprise POI’ to implicate. Since there is no ‘news’ in the Zodiac Killer case since the release of my book, from anywhere, I’m suspecting there will be no new POI named.
Regarding Foreign Rights, the Japanese version of TMDAOA was released in August 2015. I’ll post a photo when I get a copy. July 2016 will see the release of the Turkish, Italian, and Portuguese (Brazil) books. Once I get copies of these books, I’ll post the jacket to the website.
I’ll try to post more frequently as we progress toward production.
Stay tuned…
It’s been a full year with no movie update. Is it still a go? Any DNA news?
Still working on film project. Mum continues to be the word on DNA…for the moment. I will update as soon as I am able to do so! Thank you for asking.
Gary. Just watched a new investigative tv special on the zodiac killer. Channel wral at 10pm est 14 Nov 2017. That program is trying to connect a Sullivan to the zodiac. Continues next Tuesday same time. Is your research connected to this TV show? What I saw so far is in opposition to your research. What is your take on this?
Hi Karen,
My work is not associated with this History Channel Documentary. This History Channel Documentary will not ‘solve’ the case, as there was one Zodiac Killer and he was Earl Van Best, Jr. There will be more information regarding my case in the coming months. Stay tuned.
Thank you for your comments.
Gary
I am just touched by this story .amd I have not even read the book. I watched the movie then documentary on the killer then that led to adopted son video on you tube .. and it’s like the best worst thing.. I mean if there could be a movie with all of this .. I think yes it could open up a lot but people could have closure and answers family could finialy rest and new family start .this story is a thriller a drama it’s amazing
Hi Jamie,
Thank you for your comments. I too believe that the entirety of my story would be a great movie, and what a great thing it would be for the family members of the victims to finally have closure. I hope you enjoy the book as much as you did the interview on YouTube.
Gary
I heard your story on NPR recently and could hear the pain in your heart when you spoke about your Dad dropping you off. It seems like such a heartless act, especially after having kids of your own and knowing what unconditional love for your children is suppoesed to feel like. After hearing your story, I had a different perspective on why your father did what he did and I hope that you are open to hearing it. Possibly, as a father, he loved you so much that he gave you up. He knew the severe emotional feelings that he was having and, knowing what he was capable of doing, gave you up in the quickest, most earnest way he knew how to do it. I dont think he gave you up out of hate, I believe for you that he gave you up out of deep love. After all, look at the beautiful life that you created for yourself despite the odds.
Thank you for reaching out. You make a very good point, one others have suggested to me. I couldn’t agree with you more about the beautiful life I have, not that I created it, but the life my Stewart family afforded me by giving me the ‘nurture’ of love, faith, hope and forgiveness. My wife specifically steers me in that direction whenever those feelings of abandonment begin to surface, which they do often. The best remedy for me is to simply not think about it, but as you can imagine, that’s difficult to do. Thank you again for taking the time to comment.
Gary
What will you do if DNA is never confirmed? Or if yours is ruled out completely? Isn’t it odd that someone so well taught in writing and hieroglyphics (I’m not sure if that is the correct term, I’m sorry) has such sloppy handwriting? I know that most highly intelligent people do, but he had practiced from such a young age. Do you have book tours scheduled? I have questions and don’t want to bombard this page, but I don’t see a good place for these questions. Do you have input on Judy’s marriage to Rotea Gilford?
Hi Amanda,
Thank you for your questions. My hope was always to disprove my suspicions about my father being the Zodiac killer, so if my DNA is one day ruled out, I’ll be free of this forever. Outside of the Zodiac killer world, I do have a very busy, but normal life and one day, I’ll completely walk away from this story whether the DNA is confirmed or not. The known Zodiac handwriting spans a wide spectrum of ‘sloppiness’, from very neat in the Red Phantom letter, to very sloppy, the first letters to the SF Chronicle, Vallejo Times Herald, and the SF Examiner, to whatever category you would place the 340 Cipher in. To me, it just indicates that the Zodiac was capable of writing in any style he chose. No ‘tours’ scheduled, just several speaking engagements throughout the year.
Thanks again for taking the time to write!
I am currently watching the History Channel series on the Zodiac killer that features multiple teams and a super computer. Any thoughts?
Is the documentary of your book and your research being made now? Or is an actual film or miniseries back in the works?
Hi Smith Geist,
Thank you for your question! The docu-series is in production, so stay tuned for more to come!
Hi Mr Stewart. I just finished your book. I had bought it after seeing a picture of your dad run next to the Zodiac killer sketch in some news and had found it pretty conclusive too. If and when I launch my literary channel, it would a good book to talk about when talking about true crime. It would be in French though but if I do manage to do so I’ll make sure to contact you. I really hope that one day, the DNA speaks the truth so that all people involved can get closure. If I, someone so remote to the case can get so emotionally concerned by the lack of final period to this story, I can’t even imagine what it must be for you and the victims… In the meantime, you can be proud to have written a very fascinating book, not only about a son finding his father but also about how you found yourself even more so. I’m glad for you that you got to grow in a loving family. Anyway, good luck for the movie.
Thank you for your kind words, and I would be happy to participate in your show.
All my best,
Gary
Just curious where/when we can find results of the second DNA test that is mentioned in you book?
Hi Ryan,
Thanks for your question. The DNA test results are not available publicly just yet. As soon as we can, we will release everything. Thanks for your patience.
Gary
Hi Gary, I really enjoyed the book. I was really interested in the early stages of marriage between Rotea Gilford and your mother Judy.
You mentioned that Gilford had an apartment during his divorce from Patricia in the Haight and the courtship with your mother. But where was the house they shared after marriage when you refer to Rotea’s mother Viola living in a first floor apartment of their home?
I love any details that can help better paint the scene of the time. Thanks!