Epstein's Unrealised Television Dream: 'Strange Bedfellows'
Newly released documents from the estate of convicted paedophile Jeffrey Epstein have revealed one of the disgraced financier's most peculiar ambitions: an interview series pairing celebrities with leading scientists. Dubbed 'Strange Bedfellows: Culture, Meet Science/Science, Meet Culture', the project was envisioned to bring together cultural icons and Nobel laureates for wide-ranging discussions.
The files, released by the US House Oversight Committee on 12 November, provide a detailed glimpse into this unrealised venture. According to the documents, the series was intended to film in beautiful locations before a live audience, with an estimated production cost of $3.18 million.
The Proposed Line-Up: From Depp to Dawkins
The planned roster for the twelve-episode series reads like a who's who of early-21st-century fame and intellect. The inaugural episode would have featured Johnny Depp, Courtney Love, and Marilyn Manson debating creativity with what Epstein described as two Nobel Laureates, Frank Wilczek and "Yuval Hoffman".
Subsequent episodes proposed increasingly unlikely pairings:
- Film director Woody Allen with linguist Noam Chomsky
- Comedian Ricky Gervais with former Astronomer Royal Martin Rees
- William Shatner of Star Trek fame with Elon Musk
- Comedian Sarah Silverman with economist Paul Krugman
- Actor Stephen Fry with biologist Richard Dawkins
Other notable figures mentioned in the document include author Ian McEwan and film directors Werner Herzog and Alex Garland.
Celebrity Denials and Established Connections
Despite a note in the document claiming that 23 participants had already agreed in principle, representatives for multiple named individuals have denied any knowledge of the project when contacted by The Independent.
Representatives for Stephen Fry, Ricky Gervais, Martin Rees and Ian McEwan have all stated they were unaware of any such pitch. Economist Paul Krugman confirmed he was never approached about the show.
The documents do reveal established connections between Epstein and some proposed participants. Both Woody Allen and Noam Chomsky are known to have had relationships with the financier. Allen wrote a 2003 birthday letter to Epstein, while Chomsky acknowledged knowing him and meeting occasionally.
The series was apparently intended to be produced under The New Origins Project, hosted by cosmologist Lawrence Krauss. Five individuals named in the Strange Bedfellows document serve on the board of the Origins Project Foundation, of which Epstein became president in 2019.
It is crucial to note that being named in the Epstein files does not indicate implication in any wrongdoing. Courtney Love's name appeared in Epstein's black book in 2015, but she has stated she did not know him and never met him.
The revelation comes as former President Donald Trump announced he has signed a bill forcing the Justice Department to release all its Epstein-related files within 30 days, ensuring this scandal will continue to unfold and reveal further surprising connections.
