Shailene Woodley stars as FBI agent in UNABOM, Netflix’s upcoming thriller that investigates the life and crimes of Ted Kaczynski, also known as the Unabomber. The film, currently in production, explores Kaczynski’s transformation from a prodigious Harvard student to an infamous domestic terrorist, delivering a nuanced view of a decades-long manhunt led by the FBI across the United States.
Exploring the Life of the Unabomber for a New Generation
Netflix’s UNABOM brings together Russell Crowe, Shailene Woodley, and Jacob Tremblay in a dramatic retelling of the events surrounding the Unabomber investigation. Ted Kaczynski, once celebrated as a Harvard mathematics prodigy, later gained infamy by orchestrating a sequence of mail bombings from 1978 to 1995. His bombs killed three people and injured twenty-three more, primarily targeting those he believed were responsible for technological advancement and environmental harm. While numerous documentaries have dissected Kaczynski’s motives and legacy, few dramatizations have offered an in-depth look at the personal and psychological circumstances that led to his crimes.
UNABOM seeks to fill that gap. Jacob Tremblay portrays Kaczynski during his formative Harvard years, with Russell Crowe as Henry Murray, the professor who oversaw controversial psychological studies involving Kaczynski. Shailene Woodley assumes the role of Joanne Miller, the determined FBI agent spearheading the investigation. Annabelle Wallis appears as Christiana Morgan, Murray’s collaborator and co-director at the Harvard Psychological Clinic. Janus Metz directs the project using a screenplay crafted by Sam Chalsen and Nelson Greaves.
Jacob Tremblay is an immensely talented young actor. He has a sensitivity that feels perfect for my vision of Ted when he was a young student at Harvard. 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.
—Janus Metz, Director
The Dual Timeline: From Harvard Genius to Most Wanted
The title “UNABOM” references the original FBI case codename, derived from “UNiversity and Airline BOMbing,” which highlights the investigation’s wide-ranging scope and gravity. The film tracks two critical timelines: Kaczynski’s time at Harvard under Professor Henry Murray’s oversight, and the later, painstaking pursuit of justice led by the FBI. This ambitious storytelling approach highlights how controversial psychological experiments, academic manipulation, and growing alienation may have contributed to Kaczynski’s radicalization.
Director Janus Metz was initially drawn to the dramatic scale of the FBI’s long-running operation—their most expensive and prolonged manhunt. However, it was the untold story of Kaczynski’s university experience that compelled her to tell this story, revealing new facets of a familiar case that intersect with American academic and psychological history.
UNABOM is a story about a young man who feels increasingly disenfranchised by society and decides to take up violence as a means of revenge. We crosscut between two timelines, roughly speaking: the making of the Unabomber and the capture of the Unabomber.
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; it helps uncover a very dark chapter in American history.
—Janus Metz, Director
This layered perspective broadens the scope of the film, offering viewers insight not just into one of the most notorious domestic terrorists in American history, but also uncovering the psychological undercurrents and manipulative academic environments that may have set the stage for tragedy.
The Narrative Challenge: Balancing Sensitivity and Storytelling
Netflix’s UNABOM enters a landscape where many documentaries have explored the Unabomber case, but high-profile, dramatic retellings remain limited. The tricky territory lies in portraying the philosophical and psychological weight of Kaczynski’s actions, while ensuring the story approaches the subject with sensitivity and respect for the victims.
Screenwriters Sam Chalsen and Nelson Greaves, alongside director Janus Metz, confront the challenge of depicting complex motives and traumatic events without falling into sensationalism or oversimplifying the suffering caused. As Shailene Woodley’s Joanne Miller navigates the sprawling investigation, the film aims to maintain focus on the human cost, including the lived experiences of those who suffered from Kaczynski’s violence.
Netflix has not yet announced an official release date for UNABOM, but anticipation is building as viewers await this new examination of a chilling chapter in United States history. The film promises to shed light on how academic manipulation, psychological experimentation, and personal isolation converged in one of the FBI’s toughest cases, while also introducing a new generation to the dangers of unchecked extremism and the complexity of the people involved.
