Johnathan Walton Media has partnered with The Hideaway Entertainment to adapt his latest true-crime podcast, “The Handyman of West Texas,” for the screen.
Walton, a renowned true-crime podcast host, ventured into establishing his media company after creating a hit podcast series about his own harrowing experience with a con artist. “The Handyman of West Texas” narrates the intriguing tale of a male sex worker in Midland, Texas, catering to a high-society female clientele in the oil-rich town. The podcast series, consisting of six episodes, debuted in January.
In the series, the sex worker, referred to as “Mickey,” presents himself as a handyman performing odd jobs at the residences of successful oil executives. The narrative also delves into Mickey’s primary occupation, which involves the physical labor of natural gas extraction, or fracking. During his time off, Mickey claims to have been engaged by “hundreds” of women for sexual encounters in Midland and nearby areas in recent years.
“The podcast speaks for itself — the global audience it has built isn’t passive. They’re hooked and craving more. They’re drawn to Mickey and the contradictions of this world, and we see an opportunity to expand his story into something unique, ambitious and tastefully experiential for viewers to enjoy,” stated Ryan Cassells of Hideaway.
Walton is collaborating on the adaptation with Hideaway’s Ryan Cassells, Jonathan Gray, and Jean-Luc De Fanti. Cassells introduced the project to the company. Walton, together with his producing partner Evan Goldstein, will serve as executive producers for Johnathan Walton Media. The team has yet to decide if the adaptation will take the form of a feature film or a multi-episode series.
Walton, a former local TV journalist in Houston and San Antonio, transitioned into reality TV production before becoming a podcaster. He is keen to broaden his storytelling capabilities.
Following the release of 2021’s “Queen of the Con” podcast, Walton’s career took an unexpected direction. Since then, he has produced numerous high-profile audio series, including “The Quarterback and the Con Artist,” “The Athlete Whisperer,” “The California Girls,” and “The Unreal Housewife.” Last year, Walton released the memoir “Anatomy of a Con Artist,” which also acts as a guide for identifying con artists and avoiding manipulation.
“I’ve always had an unintentional knack for uncovering and befriending fascinating characters, be they con artists, cocaine kingpins, or oil-fracking sex workers,” remarked Walton. “I have learned that things are seldom ever what they first appear to be. And that the most compelling and original stories are always hiding in between the lines. And I always seem to find them by being stubbornly curious and asking tons of uncomfortable questions.”
Hideaway has “the past and pedigree to turn ‘The Handyman of West Texas’ podcast into a rich and meaningful cultural touchstone on screen. I can’t wait for the world to watch what we create together,” Walton added.
The Hideaway is currently finalizing the post-production of the feature “Alone at Dawn,” directed by Ron Howard and featuring Anne Hathaway and Adam Driver, for Amazon MGM Studios and Imagine Entertainment. Eisner’s Christian Simonds represented Hideaway in the deal with Johnathan Walton Media.
