Former US Republican representative George Santos is getting the movie treatment at HBO after getting booted from Congress.
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The Warner Bros Discovery-owned premium cable giant confirmed on Monday it has optioned the rights to author Mark Chiusano's book The Fabulist: The Lying, Hustling, Stealing, and Very American Legend of George Santos.
Frank Rich, known for his work as an executive producer on the Emmy-winning TV satires Veep and Succession, is executive producing the film adaptation, but in a non-writing capacity, according to the company.
The studio has tapped Bad Education screenwriter Mike Makowsky to write and executive produce the picture.
HBO's announcement comes less than a week after Santos was expelled from Congress, becoming the sixth lawmaker to be forced out of the legislative chamber.
The politician was ousted by his colleagues after an investigation determined that he had lied about his background, defrauded donors and used campaign money to fund an extravagant lifestyle that included Botox injections, personal travel and subscriptions on OnlyFans.
The former lawmaker has also been indicted on felony counts of wire fraud, money laundering, theft of public funds and making materially false statements to the House of Representatives.
He has denied wrongdoing and criticised the move to expel him before his case goes to trial.
This isn't the first time Hollywood has mined Santos' highly publicised saga for entertainment.
The latest instalment of Saturday Night Live opened with a humorous farewell to Santos, or rather to cast member Bowen Yang's portrayal of him.
The former congressman, fresh off his historic expulsion last week, has created a Cameo account where the public can pay for a personalised video message.
Screenshots of his account - with the bio "Former congressional 'Icon'!" - started to spread online on Monday morning. By the afternoon, users, including several lawmakers, were posting clips of Santos offering advice, blowing kisses and making cracks about Botox.
with AP
Australian Associated Press
