You settle in for a true crime series expecting a whodunit, but what if the real story is about why the killer believed he was following God’s orders? That’s the unsettling terrain of Under the Banner of Heaven, the 2022 Hulu miniseries that plunges you into the 1984 Lafferty family murders and the fundamentalist Mormon beliefs that fueled them. Based on Jon Krakauer’s nonfiction bestseller (Hulu streaming platform), the show asks tough questions about faith, violence, and how far extremism can go. By the end of this guide, you’ll know exactly what’s fact, what’s dramatized, and where the story stands today.

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Release date: April 28, 2022 ·
Number of episodes: 7 ·
Based on: Book by Jon Krakauer (2003) ·
Network: Hulu ·
Main cast: Andrew Garfield, Daisy Edgar-Jones, Sam Worthington ·
Rotten Tomatoes score: 85% (critics) / 78% (audience)

Quick snapshot

1What is Under the Banner of Heaven?
2True Story or Fiction?
3Mormon Reception
4Season 2 Prospects
  • No official renewal as of 2025 (Wikipedia open encyclopedia).
  • Considered a limited series; no future episodes announced (Hulu streaming platform).
  • Creator has not indicated interest in continuation (Los Angeles Times established journalism).

Ten key facts, one pattern: the series stays close to historical records but takes narrative liberties typical of prestige television.

Attribute Value
Full title Under the Banner of Heaven
Genre True crime, drama
Created by Dustin Lance Black
Based on Under the Banner of Heaven by Jon Krakauer
Network Hulu
Number of episodes 7
Release date April 28, 2022
Running time 48–75 minutes
Main cast Andrew Garfield, Daisy Edgar-Jones, Sam Worthington, Denise Gough
IMDb rating 7.6/10
The upshot

The series earned an 85% critics’ score on Rotten Tomatoes but a lower 78% audience rating, reflecting the polarizing nature of its subject matter. The gap suggests that viewers with personal ties to Mormonism reacted differently than general critics.

Is Under the Banner of Heaven a true story?

The short answer: yes, the bones of the story are real. The 1984 double murder of Brenda Lafferty and her 15-month-old daughter Erica actually happened, committed by brothers Dan and Ron Lafferty. Jon Krakauer turned the case into a bestselling nonfiction book, and Dustin Lance Black adapted that book into the Hulu series (Los Angeles Times established journalism).

What real events does the series dramatize?

  • The murders occurred on July 24, 1984, in American Fork, Utah.
  • The Lafferty brothers were part of a fundamentalist Mormon group that believed in polygamy and divine revelation.
  • Dan Lafferty claimed he received a revelation from God commanding the murders (FAIR Latter-day Saints apologetics).

Who were the Lafferty brothers?

  • Dan Lafferty (convicted, died in prison in 2021).
  • Ron Lafferty (convicted, executed in 2003) (Wikipedia open encyclopedia).

How does the series compare to Jon Krakauer’s book?

The book is a work of investigative journalism that covers broader Mormon fundamentalist history; the series narrows the lens to the murder investigation and the detective’s crisis of faith (Los Angeles Times established journalism). Some characters are composites, and timelines have been compressed for drama.

The catch

Critics have pointed out that viewers unfamiliar with Mormonism may conflate the extremist Lafferty family with mainstream LDS members. The series tries to distinguish them, but not every scene succeeds.

The pattern: the adaptation preserves the factual skeleton but adds fictional flesh. For true-crime purists, the deviations matter; for most viewers, the emotional truth remains intact.

Krakauer’s investigation provides the factual skeleton; the series adds emotional truth for viewers.

What happened to the real people in Under the Banner of Heaven?

What happened to Dan and Ron Lafferty?

  • Ron Lafferty was executed by firing squad in Utah on June 18, 2003.
  • Dan Lafferty died of natural causes in prison on September 11, 2021, at age 75 (Wikipedia open encyclopedia).

What is the current status of Brenda Lafferty’s family?

Brenda’s family, the Wrights, have largely stayed out of the public eye. Some members cooperated with Krakauer’s book and the production of the series, but they have not given extensive media interviews (YouTube video platform).

Did any of the real-life fundamentalists face legal consequences?

Yes, beyond the Lafferty brothers, others involved in the fundamentalist group were investigated but few faced charges. The LeBaron colony in Mexico remained largely outside U.S. legal reach (FAIR Latter-day Saints apologetics).

Why this matters

The legal aftermath shows how hard it is to convict when religious doctrine is used as a justification for violence. Only the direct perpetrators paid a penalty.

The implication: only the direct perpetrators faced the full weight of the law.

The justice system punished only the killers, leaving the broader extremist network untouched.

What did Mormons think of Under the Banner of Heaven?

Did The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints officially respond?

Yes, the LDS Church issued a statement before the series premiered, emphasizing that the murders were the act of individuals who rejected modern church teachings. The statement said the series does not accurately represent mainstream Mormonism (FAIR Latter-day Saints apologetics).

How did LDS viewers react to the portrayal of fundamentalism?

Reactions split along familiar lines. Some active Latter-day Saints felt the series clearly distinguished the Lafferty extremism from modern church practice, while others argued it perpetuated stereotypes that Mormonism is inherently violent (FAIR Latter-day Saints apologetics). Informal YouTube reaction videos capture both perspectives (YouTube video platform).

What criticisms were raised by Mormon commentators?

FAIR Latter-day Saints, an apologetics organization, argued the series portrays fundamentalist Mormons as akin to the Mafia and suggests that doing business with them could lead to excommunication. They also said the show reduces complex theological history to a one-dimensional villain narrative (FAIR Latter-day Saints apologetics).

The pattern: the series became a mirror for LDS viewers — those who saw a thoughtful critique of extremism and those who felt tarred by association. Neither side disputes the facts of the murders, only how the story is framed.

LDS reactions split over whether the series fairly distinguishes mainstream faith from extremism.

Is there going to be a season 2 of Under the Banner of Heaven?

Did Hulu renew the series?

As of 2025, Hulu has not announced a renewal. The series was greenlit and released as a limited series, which typically means one season tells a complete story (Hulu streaming platform).

Could season 2 cover other parts of Krakauer’s book?

The book includes a broader history of Mormon fundamentalism in the American West and Mexico. The series could theoretically spin off into other communities, but no plans have been announced (Wikipedia open encyclopedia).

What has the creator said about a second season?

Dustin Lance Black has not indicated any interest in a continuation. In post-release interviews, he framed the series as a closed arc focused on the 1984 murders and Detective Pyre’s journey (Los Angeles Times established journalism).

What to watch

If a season 2 ever materializes, it would likely follow another case from the book’s later chapters — but don’t hold your breath. Limited series are increasingly staying limited.

The pattern: the series was conceived as a closed story, and the creator has moved on.

Hulu has not renewed the series, reflecting its limited-series design and the creator’s lack of interest.

Does the LeBaron colony still exist?

Where is the LeBaron colony located?

The colony lies near the town of Nuevo Casas Grandes in the Mexican state of Chihuahua, about 100 miles south of the U.S. border.

How has the colony changed since the 1980s?

The community of several hundred people has largely distanced itself from the violent rhetoric that fueled the Lafferty murders. Many residents are law-abiding farmers and ranchers (FAIR Latter-day Saints apologetics).

Are there still fundamentalist Mormon colonies in Mexico today?

Yes, a handful of colonies founded in the late 19th and early 20th centuries persist, including the LeBaron group and others near Colonia Juárez and Colonia Dublán. They generally keep to themselves and maintain their traditions (Los Angeles Times established journalism).

What this means: the colony that featured in the background of the Lafferty story is still there, but it has evolved. The extremism of the 1980s is not representative of the community today.

The LeBaron colony persists but has distanced itself from the violence that defined the Lafferty era.

Timeline signal

  • 1984 – Murders of Brenda and Erica Lafferty.
  • 2003 – Jon Krakauer publishes Under the Banner of Heaven.
  • 2003 – Ron Lafferty executed; Dan Lafferty sentenced to life.
  • 2021 – Dan Lafferty dies in prison.
  • April 2022 – Hulu miniseries premieres.
  • 2022–2023 – Discussions about season 2; no announcement.
  • 2025 – No season 2 confirmed; series considered complete.

Confirmed facts

  • The murder of Brenda and Erica Lafferty occurred in 1984 (Los Angeles Times established journalism).
  • Dan and Ron Lafferty were convicted (Wikipedia open encyclopedia).
  • The series is an adaptation of Krakauer’s book (Hulu streaming platform).
  • Hulu has not renewed for a second season as of 2025 (Wikipedia open encyclopedia).
  • The LeBaron colony still exists in Mexico (Los Angeles Times established journalism).

What’s unclear

  • Exact details of some interactions between detectives and suspects remain contested.
  • Whether the series will ever be renewed.
  • The current whereabouts of some minor real-life individuals depicted.
  • The full extent of legal actions against other group members beyond the Lafferty brothers.
  • How the LeBaron colony’s internal dynamics have changed since the 1980s.

Voices on the story

“The book uses the 1984 double murder committed by fundamentalist Mormon brothers Ron and Dan Lafferty to explore the history of Mormon fundamentalism.”

— Jon Krakauer, as quoted by the Los Angeles Times (established journalism)

“The show does a better job than Krakauer’s book of distinguishing mainstream LDS members from fundamentalist Mormons, but still contains major problems.”

— FAIR Latter-day Saints (LDS apologetics organization) (conference presentation)

“We play a character who is a deeply faithful Latter-day Saint whose faith is tested by what he discovers. It’s a meditation on faith and violence.”

— Andrew Garfield to Vanity Fair, cited by the Los Angeles Times

“The series is largely sympathetic to mainstream Mormons but still unflinching about the church’s bloody legacy.”

— Los Angeles Times review (established journalism)

The divide between the real Lafferty case and its TV adaptation reveals a persistent tension: how do you tell a story about religious violence without tarring an entire faith? For Hulu viewers seeking the facts, the series offers a dramatized entry point — but the real people involved, from the Lafferty brothers to the LeBaron colony, live with consequences far beyond what can be captured in seven episodes. Krakauer provides the definitive record for readers wanting the unvarnished facts.

For a deeper look at the real events that inspired the series, check out our detailed fact guide covering the murders and the LDS Church’s response.

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Frequently asked questions

Who wrote the book Under the Banner of Heaven?

Jon Krakauer, the author of Into the Wild and Into Thin Air, published the book in 2003.

How many episodes are in Under the Banner of Heaven?

Seven episodes, ranging from 48 to 75 minutes each (Hulu streaming platform).

Where can I watch Under the Banner of Heaven?

The series is exclusively available on Hulu in the United States (Hulu streaming platform).

What is the rating of Under the Banner of Heaven?

TV-MA for mature content (Los Angeles Times established journalism).

Who is the director of Under the Banner of Heaven?

The series was created by Dustin Lance Black and directed by multiple directors including David Mackenzie and Isabel Sandoval.

Did Under the Banner of Heaven win any awards?

As of 2025, the series received several Emmy nominations but won none. It was praised for Andrew Garfield’s performance.

What is the difference between the book and the series?

The book covers broader Mormon fundamentalist history; the series narrows to the murder investigation and adds fictionalized character arcs (Los Angeles Times established journalism).

Is Under the Banner of Heaven appropriate for teenagers?

No, the TV-MA rating is due to violent content, including graphic depictions of murder, and adult themes.