Leah Remini’s expected series on the Church of Scientology has been picked up by A&E.
The reality show will debut in early 2017, as much of the footage has reportedly been shot. Sources told The Hollywood Reporter that Remini had been filming the series over the summer.
The former King of Queens star’s past with the controversial religion will be explored on the show, as well as her 2013 departure and the effect Scientology has had on the family of other church members.
Upon leaving the religion (which she joined with her family when she was eight years old), she told People: “I’ve been given a second chance at life and so has my family… it’s like a rebirth.”
READ MORE: The Church of Scientology opens massive Hollywood media complex
Rumours surrounding the show began to surface this summer following a post by Scientology blogger Tony Ortega.
The 46-year-old previously wrote a best-selling book on the topic called, Troublemaker: Surviving Hollywood and Scientology. The tell-all memoir was full of tidbits about Tom Cruise, the most famous member of the church.
In the book, the Old School actress reflected on the wedding of Katie Holmes and Cruise, including some of the events she says occurred before, during, and after the big day. (One such example was that she was forced to bring long-time friends Jennifer Lopez and Marc Anthony to the ceremony as part of an alleged attempt to “convert” them.)
In 2015, Remini also appeared on 20/20 in a segment that detailed what life was like inside the church, including a demonstration of an auditing session — a process used by the church to investigate “spiritual distress.”
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She went on to say that “being critical of Tom Cruise is being critical of Scientology itself.”
READ MORE: Leah Remini talks Tom Cruise, Scientology in new ’20/20′ interview
In an official statement addressing the spot, church officials said they were not pleased with her behaviour and noted, “She needs to move on with her life instead of pathetically exploiting her former religion, her former friends and other celebrities for money and attention to appear relevant again.”
This is not Remini’s first time working on a reality series. She appeared on Dancing With the Stars and had her own show on TLC called Leah Remini: It’s All Relative.
With files from ET Canada
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