Friend of the Devil
L O G L I N E
In colonial New Jersey, a Quaker almanac-maker’s spiritual curiosity sparks a gothic spiral of witchcraft hysteria, rebellion, betrayal, and supernatural horror, culminating in the cursed birth of a demon whose legend is unique in American History— The Jersey Devil.
S Y N O P S I S
Friend of the Devil is a genre-blending series (historical drama + supernatural horror + dark comedy) set in the tumultuous colonies of the 1690s–1700s. It follows real figures – the pirate Captain William Kidd, mystic Daniel Leeds, Maroon warrior-queen Queen Nanny of Jamaica, and New York and New Jersey Governor Lord Cornbury – as their stories converge amid witch-hunts, corruption and conflict.
Colonial New York, New Jersey, Philadelphia, London and Jamaica form a backdrop of witchcraft vs. reason, folklore vs. reality, and liberty vs. empire. The series embraces historical events and legends (Jersey Devil, buried treasure, Obeah magic) while taking bold creative liberties to craft a darkly comedic, adrenaline-fueled saga about the birth of a New World and the demons (literal and figurative) that haunt it.
Thomas Leeds
1620-1686
Daniel Leeds
1651-1720
Japheth Leeds
1682-1748
Robert Leeds
1706-1787
Solomon B Leeds
1742-1799
John Collins Leeds
1787-1864
Solomon Leeds
1802-1880
Nathan Leeds
1831-1885
Eugene Everett Leeds
1860-1913
George Washington Leeds (Pop)
1896-1985
Harold (Bud) Leeds
1921-1965
Stephen Leeds
1953-2010
Timothy Leeds (me)
1978-
N A R R A T I V E A R C
Daniel and Anne Leeds anchor the heart of Friend of the Devil, their loving marriage unraveling amidst mounting tension and supernatural dread.
Daniel, a brilliant but obsessive almanac-maker, seeks forbidden truths, straying deeper into mysticism, astrology, and esoteric knowledge-alienating their Quaker community-distancing himself from Anne.
Anne, a gifted healer, midwife, and pillar of the community sees her agency, influence, and status diminished for her husband's own transgressions and want of being right.
Anne grows to resent her husband as she loses all that she holds dear-agency, a place of belonging in her community, her very identity, in the end forsaking Daniel and their unborn 13th child.
Why this story?
History remembers Benjamin Franklin, Captain Kidd, and Salem’s witches—but Daniel Leeds, the man whose life sparked America’s most enduring supernatural legend, has been unjustly lost to time.
Leeds’s story is uniquely New Jersey—eccentric, misunderstood, and steeped in a weirdness that only the Garden State could inspire. It’s about reclaiming the overlooked and reviving forgotten mysteries. It’s about exploring a history that pulses beneath our folklore, and finally illuminating the strange, shadowy corners of America’s colonial past.
Visual Approach
Friend of the Devil immerses viewers in a 1690s-inspired aesthetic—like a colonial-era woodcut brought vividly to life—drawing directly from Daniel Leeds’s occult texts. Dark, earthy palettes echo The Witch, highlighted by eerie candlelight, shadowy woods, and vibrant tropical contrasts in Jamaica. Authentic colonial towns and decadent Baroque interiors blend realism and Gothic surrealism. Cinematic inspirations include the dread-filled authenticity of The Witch, the psychological tension of The Lighthouse, and the anachronistic wit of The Great, creating a visually distinctive, hallucinatory folktale.
Why now?
Audiences today crave diverse, original storytelling. Friend of the Devil speaks to contemporary issues (religious extremism, feminism, colonialism/race, spiritual gatekeeping, the meaning of life) through the prism of the past, making the show resonant and thought-provoking.
By claiming this story now, I honor my ancestors and invite viewers to question the “devils” of history that still haunt us. No one else has brought together these wild true tales – it feels like fate (or providence) that I found this story at all .
Musical Approach
Friend of the Devil pairs haunting Baroque compositions (Henry Purcell’s eerie strings, harpsichord refrains) with gritty, modern New Jersey legends—Bruce Springsteen’s storytelling ballads, Misfits’ dark punk anthems, Redman’s raw edge—to craft a bold and unexpected sonic landscape. And Danzig.
The eclectic soundtrack amplifies thematic contrasts: refined versus rebellious, historical precision versus contemporary irreverence. This musical tension creates a timeless, unsettling mood that immerses viewers fully in the series’ unique blend of history, horror, and dark humor.
THEMES OF SPIRTUALITY, BETRAYAL, Mutiny, Astrology, Astronomy, REASON, PYRACY ENSLAVEMENT, CLASS & STATUS, FEMINISM, IMPERIALISM, COLONISATION, INDIGENOUS RIGHTS, JUSTICE, SCIENCE, DEVILS & MAGIC
tim@timleeds.com
Hours
Monday–Friday
10am–6pm
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