Gawker is reporting that Paul Haggis (Million Dollar Baby, Crash) has teamed up with New Yorker staff writer Lawrence Wright to write a scathing book about Haggis’ time as a member of the Church of Scientology. Haggis spent 35 years as a Scientologist before publicly exiting the religion in 2009.
While the book has yet to secure a publisher, it does have a title: The Heretic of Hollywood: Paul Haggis vs. The Church of Scientology. The book will explore the religion’s origins and its founder noted science fiction author L. Ron Hubbard as well as including Haggis’ own personal investigation into his church — including accusations of slavery, forced abortions and violent leaders.
It will be interesting to see what steps the church takes to stop this book from being released. Many conspiracy theorists have already begun branding around accusations that the church’s powerful grip on Hollywood was the reason Paul Thomas Anderson’s planned movie on the religion has yet to enter production.
If Wright and Haggis can avoid winding up on the wrong side of an industrial power tool accident between now and the book’s scheduled release, it will be an interesting read when it comes out. The church is no stranger to scandal and very public battles with detractors.
