This story was created in paid partnership with Ascend Agency.
The Madison’s Danielle Vasinova is the latest addition to writer-director Michael J. Gallagher’s new thriller, The Leader. The film is about the shocking true story of the infamous leaders of the cult known as Heaven’s Gate — Bonnie Lu Nettles and Marshall Herf Applewhite — who convinced hundreds of followers to abandon their families and adopt their “UFO religion” with the promise of ascending to heaven alongside extra-terrestrials through mass suicide.
For now, most of the details of the upcoming film are still being kept under wraps. However, recently, another piece of information was unveiled: Vasinova will play the role of Louise Applewhite, the mother of cult leader Marshall Herf Applewhite.
Danielle Vasinova’s Career to Date
As a Native American/Czech Emmy Award-nominated actress, Vasinova has taken Hollywood by storm recently. She has experienced a series of successes while appearing in the daytime hit The Bay and Taylor Sheridan’s epic 1923. She will also be starring in Sheridan’s new series The Madison, which is currently believed to have a release date sometime in late 2025 or early 2026.
On top of her acting career, Vasinova has steadily become known for her timeless fashion sense. She appeared on the cover of the summer issue of Cowgirl Magazine with a full inside spread shot by renowned photographer Beau Simmons, and her Americana-inspired fashion line VASINOVA is slated for release later this year.
Danielle Vasinova
Image courtesy of Danielle Vasinova
An All-Star Cast
With her role in The Leader, Vasinova joins what has quickly become a star-studded ensemble cast.
Vasinova will appear alongside Academy Award-nominated Vera Farmiga, Tim Blake Nelson of Watchmen fame and Emmy Award-winning Jim Parsons of The Big Bang Theory.
Further Details of The Leader
Aside from featuring the aforementioned esteemed cast members, The Leader will be helmed by Gallagher, whose accolades include writing and directing television series and films such as 2018’s Funny Story and The Thinning: New World Order. The Leader marks his biggest and most ambitious directorial feature to date.
In addition to Gallagher, the production team behind The Leader includes names such as Jana Gallagher, Michael Wormser, Joel David Moore and Matt Murphie. Executive producers include Blake Nelson, Farmiga, Parsons, Simon Rex, Eric Gozlan, Evan Silverberg, Daniel Taborga, Rishi Bajaj, James Cullen Bressack, Stacy Kemp, Vasinova, Dominick La Ruffa Jr., Kelly Lynn Reiter, Kim DeLonghi, Lee Broda, ALG Films, Karen KK Gregor, Justin Nesbitt, Dan Reardon, Justin Steele, Micah Molinari, David Wachs, Ojan Missaghi and Andy Grombacher.
The Leader currently doesn’t have a release date.
About Danielle Vasinova
Emmy Award-nominated actress Vasinova is well-known for her work in Sheridan’s 1923, several action-adventure films, TV series roles and as Belle in Belle’s War. She will be starring in the Yellowstone spinoff, The Madison, set to premiere later this year. Vasinova is an avid equestrian and resides in Los Angeles.
