British Scientology Doc Maker Says Church Was "Worried He'd Get Hurt" After Threat by Member

Louis Theroux said police came to his home in the U.K. after a call made by the church in response to 'My Scientology Doc.'

Louis Theroux, the British broadcaster behind My Scientology Movie, a documentary prying into the secretive nature of the church and numerous allegations of abuse, has discussed his ongoing interactions with the organization a year after making the film.

Speaking during a Q&A at the Sheffield Doc/Fest over the weekend, the BBC journalist described how police officers came to his door in the U.K. following a call by the local branch of the church who said Scientology representatives were "worried you might get hurt."

"They said someone had seen your film and they really didn't like it and had phoned [the Church of Scientology] with a threat," he told the audience, adding "something about that really doesn't make sense." The exact nature of the threat wasn't clear.

Speaking to The Hollywood Reporter following My Scientology Movie's world premiere at the London Film Festival last year, Theroux said he was well aware of the church's tactics and that his "life could be turned upside down" if it chose to aggressively come after him.

He also added that were his film to get a release in the U.S., he thought the response from the church could get "bigger."

As it happens, My Scientology Doc, Theroux's first theatrical feature, is now set for a U.S. launch, having been picked up by Magnolia last month. Altitude will release the film — directed by John Dower, produced by Simon Chinn (Searching for Sugar Man) with funding from BBC Films and BBC Worldwide — in the U.K.