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That Alleged NXIVM Sex Cult Is Already Getting Its Own TV Show

The 'New York Times' exposé on the group is getting adapted into a one-hour scripted series.
Drew Schwartz
Brooklyn, US
Photo by Drew Angerer/Getty Images

Late last week, Smallville actress Allison Mack was arrested on sex trafficking charges stemming from her involvement with NXIVM, a self-help group allegedly running a sex cult that branded and blackmailed women into having sex with its founder, Keith Raniere. Now, because Hollywood doesn't sleep on shit, it looks like a TV series about the bizarre story is already in the works.

According to the Hollywood Reporter, Annapurna Television optioned the 2017 New York Times exposé that uncovered the alleged dark side of NXIVM. The network plans to adapt it into a one-hour scripted series, produced by Westworld actress Shannon Woodward. And while details are still scant, we do know a good bit about what allegedly went down in NXIVM's secret sorority, or "DOS."

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According to the Times exposé, high ranking female NXIVM members called "masters" would recruit "slaves" to join the secretive tier, where—as a requirement for joining—they would be asked for naked pictures of themselves, or incriminating details about their lives. From there, some were allegedly branded, blackmailed, and pressured into having sex with Raniere. The group managed to attract a number of celebrities, most notably Mack, who's been accused of serving as one of Raniere's top "masters."

Raniere was arrested in Mexico in March, and was denied bail earlier this week. Meanwhile, Mack is out on $5 million bail on sex-trafficking charges while she and Raniere ready themselves for a legal battle that could land them in prison for anywhere between 15 years to life.

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