HBO Max Tackles Heaven's Gate Cult in New Docuseries Trailer

In 1997, the world was shocked by the revelation that 39 people had committed suicide together, believing they could trans-substantiate into otherwordly beings and be taken up to heaven in a spaceship following the Hale-Bopp comet.

HBO Max's new four-part documentary series about Marshall Applewhite's Heaven's Gate cult explores how well-educated people from good families could victim to this strange belief system so completely that they would willingly end their own lives in its service.

Heaven's Gate: The Cult of Cults premieres December 2 on HBO Max.

Andy Hunsaker has a head full of sitcom gags and nerd-genre lore, and can be followed @AndyHunsaker if you're into that sort of thing.