HBO is bringing the “Gatsby-esque journey” of former congressman George Santos to the big screen.
‘The Fabulist’ by Mark Chiusano, which is set to be adapted for television by HBO, will follow the ascent and decline of former congressman George Santos.
The film will tell the narrative of George Santos, the former congressman who was removed from office last week due to allegations of lying and embezzlement of campaign money.
On Friday, December 1, 2023, Republican former US Representative George Santos of New York meets with reporters on Capitol Hill in Washington, DC, US. T: Al Drago/Bloomberg (Bloomberg) photographer
On Friday, December 1, 2023, Republican former US Representative George Santos of New York meets with reporters on Capitol Hill in Washington, DC, US. T: Al Drago/Bloomberg (Bloomberg) photographer
The Fabulist: The Lying, Hustling, Grifting, Stealing, and Very American Legend of George Santos, a new book written by former Newsday writer Mark Chiusano, has found a home at HBO Films. Frank Rich, a former New York Times writer and executive producer of the Emmy-winning television series Veep and Succession, will produce the film. Mike Makowsky, the author of the HBO crime thriller Bad Education, will write the script.
The “Gatsby-esque journey of a man from nowhere who exploited the system, waged war on truth, and swindled one of the wealthiest districts in the country to achieve his American Dream” will be explored in both the book and the film.
A portion of New York District Three, which contains Great Neck—the model town for Little Egg—and the fictitious village where Jay Gatsby, the main character of F. Scott Fitzgerald’s renowned book The Great Gatsby, resided and lied, is represented by Santos, a criminal defendant.
Last Thursday, Chiusano told the Guardian that the story of Santos was fundamentally “a tragedy.”
“It is evident that he has high ambitions and aspires to lead a life of luxury, notoriety, and prominence. In essence, he is attempting to realize a version of the American dream, which countless individuals have pursued throughout the years.”
The former US state representative said on Twitter on Friday night that he will submit charges against former coworkers Nicole Malliotakis, Mike Lawler, Nick LaLota, and Bob Menendez, accusing them of a number of transgressions.
Former Trump White House chief of staff and ABC political commentator Reince Priebus said on Sunday that there were differences within the Republican party on the vote to remove Santos and the matter of removing the district’s voters’ authority.
It’s true that he lied. All these things show how large of a mouth he has. You know, I do believe that taking that authority away from the district’s residents raises concerns, Priebus said. He went on, saying Santos was “a victim of himself.” However, he is now bearing the cost of his large mouth and his near-comedic persona in front of his peers, who are now serving as his judges. And it cost him. And that’s a valuable lesson about keeping your head down and your mouth shut when you’re in danger.
In a detailed account of Santos’s ascent and decline, New York Magazine cited Dr. Seuss, saying, “Don’t cry because it’s over.” Grin because it was real.
