Netflix drama ‘Unabomber’ dives into Ted Kaczynski’s youth

By the Editorial Team · Friday, July 31, 2026

Netflix’s limited series “Unabomber” premieres September 25 and explores Theodore Kaczynski’s teenage years and the FBI investigation that led to his capture, starring Jacob Tremblay as young Kaczynski and Shailene Woodley as an FBI agent. The show highlights the psychological trauma Kaczynski endured during secret CIA-funded experiments and contrasts his early vulnerability with the later manhunt, offering insight into the factors behind his radicalization.

Netflix’s upcoming limited series “Unabomber,” set to premiere September 25, offers a dual-timeline exploration of Theodore Kaczynski’s life, focusing on his youth and the later FBI manhunt that captured him. The drama stars Jacob Tremblay as a 16-year-old Kaczynski, providing a portrayal of the future domestic terrorist before his bombing spree, while Shailene Woodley and Alexander Ludwig appear as FBI agents investigating the case in the 1990s.

The series delves into Kaczynski’s teenage years as a mathematics prodigy who enrolled at Harvard University at an early age. It sheds light on his involvement in controversial psychological experiments led by professor Henry Murray, played by Russell Crowe, and Murray’s associate Christiana Morgan, portrayed by Annabelle Wallis. These experiments, covertly funded by the CIA and linked to the early stages of the MK-Ultra program, involved psychological manipulation and abuse intended to test mind control techniques.

Director Janus Metz described Murray as a charismatic but manipulative figure who became a distorted paternal influence on Kaczynski. The series depicts how Kaczynski initially idolizes Murray and distances himself from his family, only to be subjected to verbal abuse designed to break him down, which eventually triggers aggressive behavior. A pivotal moment features Kaczynski confronting his parents after his academic performance declines due to the psychological toll of the experiments.

The show contrasts these formative experiences with a parallel narrative set in the mid-1990s, focusing on FBI agent Joanne Miller, a fictional character portrayed by Woodley, who leads the investigation into the Unabomber. Miller’s character uses the manifesto published by Kaczynski to unravel clues about his identity. Woodley noted that studying the manifesto and real FBI accounts of the investigation helped convey the gravity of the case.

Tremblay, 19, described his role as portraying an “innocent” Kaczynski unaware of the man he will become. To prepare, he studied audio recordings of Kaczynski’s interviews, noting the blend of confidence, arrogance, and articulate speech behind the seemingly reclusive figure living in isolation. Tremblay was drawn to the project in part because of its message about protecting vulnerable youth, reflecting on the lasting impact childhood trauma can have.

Metz emphasized Tremblay’s suitability for the role, pointing out parallels between the actor’s transitional life stage and that of Kaczynski during his Harvard years, a time when young people are particularly impressionable. Tremblay, who began acting as a child and received acclaim for his performance in “Room,” acknowledged his personal connection to themes of youth and vulnerability, though he stressed his very different upbringing from Kaczynski’s.

The series aims to offer a nuanced portrayal of one of the most enigmatic figures in recent American criminal history by examining both his early life and the efforts to bring him to justice.

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