Waco (miniseries)

Production

John Erick Dowdle and Drew Dowdle originally conceived the project as a feature film, but the script reached around 150 pages. After attempts to shorten it, Drew Dowdle decided to convert it into a limited series, a format they had not attempted before. The Weinstein Company agreed the story would suit a longer format. In August 2016, it was announced that The Weinstein Company was developing a television miniseries based on the 1993 Branch Davidian siege, with the Dowdle brothers writing and John Erick Dowdle directing.

The series draws on two biographies: A Place Called Waco by David Thibodeau and Stalling for Time by FBI negotiator Gary Noesner. In October 2016, Spike picked up the rights; Spike later rebranded as Paramount Network. Salvatore Stabile and Sarah Nicole Jones joined the writing staff, with John Erick Dowdle directing four episodes and Dennie Gordon directing two. Michael Shannon and Taylor Kitsch were cast as Gary Noesner and David Koresh, respectively.

John Leguizamo joined as ATF agent Robert Rodriguez, followed by Andrea Riseborough, Rory Culkin, Paul Sparks, and Shea Whigham as series regulars. Melissa Benoist and Julia Garner were added in April 2017, with Camryn Manheim, Eric Lange, Annika Marks, Steven Culp, and Sarah Minnich cast in recurring roles.

Release

The first trailer for the series was released on September 26, 2017, with a second trailer in November. Following sexual abuse allegations against Harvey Weinstein, his name and The Weinstein Company were removed from the series' credits. Paramount Network president Kevin Kay confirmed on January 15, 2018, that the credits would not include The Weinstein Company logo. The series premiered at the Paley Center for Media in New York City on January 24, 2018, with a screening and discussion featuring cast and crew.

Reception

The miniseries received a mixed response from critics. On Rotten Tomatoes, it holds a 70% approval rating with an average rating of 6.6 out of 10; the critical consensus notes that while the ensemble is outstanding, the sympathetic approach to David Koresh may offend some viewers. Metacritic assigned a score of 56 out of 100, indicating mixed or average reviews. Matt Zoller Seitz of New York Magazine offered restrained praise, calling it a necessary and sometimes powerful series, particularly in the third hour depicting the initial assault.

Alex McLevy of The A.V. Club praised the actors for elevating passable storytelling. Mike Hale of The New York Times described it as a workmanlike summary with a sympathetic portrait of Koresh. Lorraine Ali of The Los Angeles Times gave a negative review, stating the series fails to weave opposing perspectives into a three-dimensional story. Episodes were simulcast on CMT.

Other media

A companion documentary series titled Revelations of Waco was released on the Paramount Network website and YouTube channel after each episode, featuring interviews with participants from both sides. Sony Classical released a soundtrack album with original music by Jeff Russo and Jordan Gagne. A follow-up series, Waco: The Aftermath, premiered on Showtime on April 16, 2023, focusing on the siege's fallout and the patriot movement, with Michael Shannon, John Leguizamo, Shea Whigham, and Annika Marks reprising their roles.