Picture Credit: Netflix
Netflix is getting ready to unpack the chilling origin story of one of America’s most infamous domestic terrorists in Unabomber (formerly known as Unabomb and actually Unabomber before that!). Boasting a stellar cast led by Jacob Tremblay, Russell Crowe, and Shailene Woodley, the R-rated biographical thriller is officially slated to hit Netflix globally on September 25, 2026.
To gear up for the release, USA Today just dropped an exclusive first look at the upcoming film, giving us our first glimpse of Tremblay’s transformation into a young Ted Kaczynski.
Here’s everything you need to know about Unabomber, including what it’s about, who is starring, and who is behind the camera.
What is Unabomber about?
Rather than just focusing on the bombings that paralyzed the nation for nearly two decades, Unabomber takes an unconventional narrative approach by utilizing two cross-cutting timelines.
The official Netflix logline reads:
“Inspired by true events, UNABOMBER follows Ted Kaczynski’s (Jacob Tremblay) transformation from 16-year-old 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.”
The first timeline takes us back to the 1950s, following a 16-year-old Kaczynski as a math prodigy at Harvard. There, he becomes the unwitting guinea pig in a series of abusive, CIA-funded mind control experiments (which laid the groundwork for the infamous MK-Ultra program). The experiments are led by the charismatic but deeply manipulative psychology professor Henry Murray.
The second timeline jumps forward to the mid-1990s, focusing on the intense FBI manhunt to catch the elusive bomber, using a major lead connected directly to Kaczynski’s time at Harvard.
Speaking exclusively to USA Today, star Jacob Tremblay noted the unique challenge of playing a notorious figure before he became a monster: “I did really enjoy playing a young Ted and an innocent take on this domestic terrorist. I’m playing a character who has no idea who the Unabomber is. He has no idea of the man he’s going to turn into.”
Director Janus Metz elaborated on the psychological breakdown portrayed in the film, telling USA Today, “Murray is seductive and charismatic, and as Ted starts to see him as a father figure, he discards his real parents and sees the shimmer of everything he is aspiring to be – until the reality of the experiments is brutally unveiled to him.”
Unabomber. Jacob Tremblay as Ted Kaczynski in Unabomber. Cr. Philippe Bosse/Netflix ©2026
Who is in the cast of Unabomber?
The film boasts a massive ensemble cast of established stars and rising talents:
- Jacob Tremblay (Room, The Smurfs 2) plays the teenage Ted Kaczynski. To prepare for the role, Tremblay studied investigative recordings of the adult Kaczynski to capture his unique cadence and arrogant confidence.
- Russell Crowe (Gladiator, A Beautiful Mind) plays Professor Henry Murray, the Harvard psychologist who subjects Kaczynski to verbal abuse and psychological breakdown under the guise of an academic philosophy club.
- Shailene Woodley (Big Little Lies, Divergent) stars as Joanne Miller, a fictional FBI agent leading the 1990s manhunt who uses the Unabomber’s own manifesto to track him down.
- Annabelle Wallis (Peaky Blinders, Malignant) plays Christiana Morgan, Murray’s associate in the experiments.
- Alexander Ludwig (Vikings, Heels) plays a fellow FBI agent on Miller’s team.
- Steven Ogg (The Walking Dead, GTA V)
- Marc Menchaca (Ozark, The Outsider)
Who is behind Unabomber?
The film is directed by Janus Metz, who Netflix fans will know from his work on the hit thriller Borg vs. McEnroe and episodes of True Detective and Andor.
The script was penned by writing duo Sam Chalsen and Nelson Greaves (Sleepy Hollow), who also serve as executive producers alongside Donald J. Lee Jr. The film is produced by Sophie Cassidy for 2.0 Entertainment and Doug Belgrad, in association with MRC.
Behind the camera, the film features music by legendary composer Marco Beltrami (A Quiet Place, Logan), costume design by Veronique Marchessault, and editing by Oscar-winner Zach Staenberg (The Matrix).
When and where was Unabomber filmed?
Production for Unabomber took place over the summer of 2025. Cameras rolled in Montreal, Quebec, Canada, with the shoot lasting from June 4, 2025, to July 16, 2025.
Unabomber will drop globally on Netflix on Friday, September 25, 2026.
Are you looking forward to checking out Unabomber on Netflix? Let us know in the comments below!
