Under the Banner of Heaven – True Story, Cast and Complete Guide

In 2022, FX on Hulu released Under the Banner of Heaven, a gripping true crime drama that quickly became one of the year’s most talked-about series. The story it tells is deeply disturbing, rooted in a real family tragedy that took place in Utah in 1984. This guide unpacks the true story behind the series, explores the cast, compares the miniseries to the Jon Krakauer book it adapts, and answers where you can watch it.

The miniseries, created by Dustin Lance Black, follows a fictional Mormon detective as he investigates a brutal double murder. As the case unfolds, the narrative delves into the history of the Latter-day Saint movement and the radical fringe groups that broke away from it. At its heart, the series asks difficult questions about faith, extremism, and violence.

Is Under the Banner of Heaven a True Story?

Yes, the events at the core of Under the Banner of Heaven are entirely true. The series dramatizes the 1984 murders of Brenda Wright Lafferty and her 15-month-old daughter, Erica, in American Fork, Utah. The killers were Brenda’s brothers-in-law, Ron and Dan Lafferty.

Here are the essential facts to understand:

• The victims were Brenda Wright Lafferty (24) and her daughter Erica Ann Lafferty (15 months).
• The perpetrators were Ron Lafferty and Dan Lafferty, brothers of Brenda’s husband, Allen.
• The motive was rooted in a belief called “removal revelation,” a divine commandment Ron claimed he received to kill Brenda and her child.
• Brenda was stabbed over thirty times; Erica was killed with a 10-inch pipe wrench.
• Both brothers were convicted of two counts of first-degree murder.
• Ron Lafferty was executed by lethal injection on November 15, 2019.
• Dan Lafferty received a life sentence without parole and remains incarcerated.

What happened to Brenda Lafferty in real life?

Brenda Wright Lafferty was a 24-year-old mother and a devout member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church). Her crime, in the eyes of her brothers-in-law, was opposing their embrace of fundamentalist polygamy. She had a strong influence on her husband, Allen, which threatened Ron’s authority. On July 24, 1984, Ron and Dan entered her home and killed her and her daughter. The murder of Erica was intended, according to Ron’s recorded statements, to eliminate any future “seed” of opposition.

Who were the Lafferty brothers?

Ron Lafferty was the elder brother and the primary instigator. He claimed to have received a “removal revelation” from God instructing the murders. Dan Lafferty, the younger brother, followed Ron into radical fundamentalism and participated in the killings but later distanced himself from Ron’s prophetic claims. Both came from a mainstream Mormon family that became radicalized through a fundamentalist group known as the School of Prophets, led by figures like John Bryant and Robert B. Crossfield (“Onias”).

What is Mormon fundamentalism as depicted in the series?

The series and book draw a clear distinction between mainstream LDS practices and Mormon fundamentalism. Mainstream LDS, led by the Salt Lake City church, abandoned polygamy in 1890. Fundamentalist offshoots, such as the one the Laffertys joined, believe the mainstream church lost its way and seek to restore 19th-century practices, including plural marriage. The series uses flashbacks to figures like Joseph Smith to show the historical roots of these tensions.

How Does the Miniseries Differ from the Book?

Dustin Lance Black’s miniseries is an adaptation of Jon Krakauer’s 2003 non-fiction book, but the two are structured very differently. Understanding the differences is key for those who have read the book or are curious about what the series changed.

What did Jon Krakauer’s book focus on?

Krakauer’s book, Under the Banner of Heaven: A Story of Violent Faith, is a dense, journalistic work. It interweaves the Lafferty murder case with an extensive history of the LDS Church, including its violent episodes like the Mountain Meadows Massacre. The book’s thesis is that certain forms of religious belief can foster violence. It follows the Lafferty brothers after the murder and their retrials.

What creative liberties did Dustin Lance Black take?

The miniseries restructures the story into a detective procedural. It introduces the fictional character of Detective Jeb Pyre, a devout Mormon, as the audience’s entry point. The series centers on Pyre’s investigation and his subsequent faith crisis. Key changes include:

• Fictionalizing the setting to “East Rockwell, Utah.”
• Creating composite characters, such as the family patriarch Ammon Lafferty.
• Dramatizing emotional arcs and suspects (Allen Lafferty was an initial suspect).
• Adding the character of Detective Bill Taba, a non-LDS Southern Paiute partner, to provide an outsider’s perspective.
• Real investigators from the case declined to be depicted, leading to the creation of Pyre.

Is the detective character Jeb Pyre based on a real person?

No. Detective Jeb Pyre is a fictional composite character. According to creator Dustin Lance Black, the character was created to allow the audience to experience the investigation and its challenges to faith from an inside perspective. The real detectives involved in the case chose not to participate in the project, a fact noted by FAIR Latter-day Saints in their analysis of the series.

Who Stars in the Cast of Under the Banner of Heaven?

The series features a talented ensemble cast led by Andrew Garfield. The actors have spoken about the responsibility they felt in portraying real people and their tragic story.

Who plays Detective Jeb Pyre?

Andrew Garfield plays Detective Jeb Pyre. Garfield’s performance was widely praised, capturing the character’s devoutness and the revolutionary shock of his faith crisis.

Who plays Brenda Lafferty?

Daisy Edgar-Jones plays Brenda Wright Lafferty. She portrays Brenda as a strong-willed woman whose opposition to fundamentalism made her a target.

Who plays Ron and Dan Lafferty?

Sam Worthington plays the elder brother, Ron Lafferty. Wyatt Russell plays the younger brother, Dan Lafferty. Both deliver chilling performances that highlight the ordinary nature of the men before their radicalization.

Who is the showrunner of Under the Banner of Heaven?

The series was created and written by Dustin Lance Black, an Academy Award-winning screenwriter (Milk) who was raised in the LDS faith. Black’s personal history with Mormonism gave the project a unique perspective. David Mackenzie directed the series.

Where Can I Watch Under the Banner of Heaven?

Viewing options depend on your location and streaming subscriptions. Here is the current availability of the series.

Is Under the Banner of Heaven on Hulu?

Yes, in the United States, Under the Banner of Heaven is an FX on Hulu original series. All seven episodes stream exclusively on Hulu.

Is Under the Banner of Heaven on Netflix or Amazon Prime?

As of now, the series is not available on Netflix or Amazon Prime in the United States. In some international markets, it is available on Disney+ under the Star banner.

How many episodes are in Under the Banner of Heaven?

The series consists of three episodes, each approximately 45–60 minutes long. It premiered on April 28, 2022, with new episodes released weekly.

Will there be an Under the Banner of Heaven season 2?

There is currently no official announcement about a second season. The story told in the miniseries is self-contained, adapting the book’s narrative fully. There are no plans or confirmations for a season 2 as of the latest information.

Timeline of Key Events

The story of Under the Banner of Heaven spans decades from the tragic crime to its modern-day adaptation.

1. 1984: Brenda Lafferty and her daughter are murdered by Ron and Dan Lafferty.
2. 2003: Jon Krakauer publishes Under the Banner of Heaven, investigating the murders and Mormon fundamentalism.
3. 2021: Production begins on the FX miniseries adaptation, with Dustin Lance Black as creator.
4. April 2022: Under the Banner of Heaven miniseries premieres on FX on Hulu.
5. 2022-Present: The series remains available on Hulu and Disney+, with continued interest in the true crime story.

What Is Certain and What Remains Unclear?

When covering a story that blends historical fact with dramatic adaptation, it is helpful to distinguish between what is established and what is speculative or unclear.

What Is the Context of the Lafferty Murders?

The Lafferty murders did not occur in a vacuum. They took place within the broader landscape of Mormon fundamentalism in the 1980s. The Lafferty brothers were part of a group called the School of Prophets, which sought to restore what they saw as original Mormon practices, including polygamy. This group was a direct offshoot of mainstream LDS, which had renounced polygamy in 1890. The tension between the mainstream church and these fundamentalist factions is a central theme of both the book and the series. The murders shocked the LDS community and highlighted the dangers of religious extremism.

Critically, the series was noted for its strong performances but also for its pacing, with some middle episodes receiving criticism for being slow. The Rotten Tomatoes Critics Consensus described it as “a devastating, thought-provoking look at faith gone wrong.”

What Are the Key Sources and Quotes?

The series and the story it tells have been covered extensively. Here are some notable perspectives.

“Under the Banner of Heaven makes you feel the horror of what happened.”

— The Guardian review

“We wanted to be as respectful as possible to Brenda’s memory.”

— Dustin Lance Black (Variety interview)

The book is available in detail on Wikipedia, and the miniseries has its own Wikipedia page with full cast and episode lists. The IMDb page provides user ratings and a comprehensive cast list.

Wrapping Up: The Complete Picture

Under the Banner of Heaven is more than just a true crime series. It is a documented account of a terrible crime, an adaptation of a seminal work of investigative journalism, and a powerful exploration of faith and extremism. The miniseries, while taking creative liberties with its narrative framework, remains anchored to the terrible reality of July 24, 1984, in American Fork, Utah. For those seeking to understand the Lafferty case and the book that brought it to national attention, the series offers a compelling, if filtered, entry point. For the full background, Jon Krakauer’s Comprehensive Research Summary: The Lafferty Murders and True Story remains the definitive source.

Frequently Asked Questions