Netflix has officially unveiled the first images from its upcoming true-crime drama Unabomber, while also confirming that the film will premiere September 25, 2026. Starring Jacob Tremblay as a young Ted Kaczynski, the film digs into the years that shaped one of America’s most notorious domestic terrorists, intertwining that story with the FBI investigation that brought him to justice. Rather than focusing solely on Kaczynski’s bombing campaign, which took place between the years 1978 and 1995, Unabomber looks to examine Kaczynski’s transformation from a teenage mathematics prodigy into the man behind one of the longest manhunts in FBI history. You can check out the images at the bottom of this article.
A Different Take on the Unabomber Story
Directed by Janus Metz (Borg vs McEnroe, All the Old Knives) from a script by Sam Chalsen and Nelson Greaves (TV’s Sleepy Hollow), Unabomber tells its story across two timelines. One follows Ted Kaczynski as he enters Harvard University at just 16 years old, where he becomes involved in experiments conducted by Professor Henry Murray, played by Russell Crowe. The second timeline centers on the decades-long FBI investigation led by agent Joanne Miller, portrayed by Shailene Woodley, as authorities try to identify and capture the bomber.
Inspired by true events, Unabomber follows Ted Kaczynski’s (Jacob Tremblay) transformation from Harvard prodigy into the infamous Unabomber. Subjected to controversial psychological experiments by Professor Henry Murray (Russell Crowe), Kaczynski’s troubled past resurfaces decades later when his manhunt, led by FBI agent Joanne Miller (Shailene Woodley), brings to light the chilling consequences of ambition and isolation.
Director Janus Metz said he was drawn to the lesser-known chapter of Kaczynski’s life.
“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 a side to the story I didn’t know about.”
Jacob Tremblay Leads the Cast
Jacob Tremblay, best known for Room and Sovereign, takes on one of the most challenging roles of his career. The actor said,
“I really wanted to make sure I went into this role playing him as a real person. I wanted him to feel real. I drew from my own personal experiences of what it feels like to be involved in a career where I’m surrounded by a lot of people who are older than me, and that feeling of not fitting in a bit.”
Joining Tremblay are:
- Russell Crowe as Harvard psychologist Henry Murray
- Shailene Woodley as FBI agent Joanne Miller
- Annabelle Wallis as psychologist Christiana Morgan
- Alexander Ludwig
- Steven Ogg
- Marc Menchaca
Will you be watching Unabomber when it arrives on Netflix this September? Check out the first look images, then let us know your thoughts in the comments below.
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