Netflix revisits the unsettling true story of Ted Kaczynski in ‘UNABOMBER’
Netflix is about to retrace the unsettling true story of the infamous killer, whose trail of bloodshed gripped the United States with fear and panic for around two decades in Janus Metz’s upcoming film, UNABOMBER.
Instead of diving deep into his crimes, UNABOMBER tells the story of a young man marginalised by society, to whom violence becomes a “means of revenge.” “We crosscut between two timelines, roughly speaking: the making of the Unabomber and the capture of the Unabomber.”
Inspired by true events, UNABOMBER follows Ted Kaczynski’s evolution from a Harvard prodigy into the notorious Unabomber. Subjected to debatable psychological experiments by Professor Henry Murray, Kaczynski’s problematic past is unearthed decades later when FBI agent Joanne Miller’s pursuit of the Unabomber reveals the impossible consequences of ambition and isolation.
“I was fascinated by the fact that the hunt for the Unabomber was the FBI’s longest and most expensive operation to date. But what really drew me in was the story about Ted Kaczynski’s years at Harvard when he was a young math student. This was the side to the story I didn’t know about; it helps uncover a very dark chapter in American history,” Metz explains.
Netflix has roped in an ensemble cast so far for UNABOMBER, featuring Jacob Tremblay as the young Ted Kaczynski, Russel Crowe as Henry Murray, Shailene Woodley as FBI agent Joanne Miller, and Annabelle Wallis as Christiana Morgan, co-director of the Harvard Psychological Clinic and Professor Murray’s academic partner.
Meanwhile, Alexander Ludwig, Steven Ogg, and Marc Menchaca have been tapped in undisclosed roles.
Speaking of Tremblay, Metz told Tudum, “There’s a vulnerability and intelligence to Jacob’s look and performance that this story needs. I was convinced that Jacob was right for the part after our first conversation, and it has been a huge pleasure to now finally be able to do the work and hone in on the character with him.”
Directed by Metz, Sophie Cassidy produces UNABOMBER for 2.0 Entertainment, in association with MRC. The script is co-written by Sam Chalsen and Nelson Greaves, who also serve as executive producers alongside Don Lee.
For those curious about whether a trailer is available, unfortunately, it’s not time yet. Likewise, the release date of Netflix’s UNABOMBER remains under wraps. But considering the streamer has teased a “coming soon” tag, it shouldn’t be long before additional updates surface. So, stay tuned for more information!