Jacob Tremblay Transforms Into Ted Kaczynski in Netflix's Unabomber — And It Looks Absolutely Chilling

The Kid From Room Is All Grown Up — And Playing a Terrorist

If you still picture Jacob Tremblay as the wide-eyed child from Room, buckle up. Netflix's Unabomber, dropping September 25, 2026, features the now-19-year-old actor in arguably the most daring role of his career: a young Ted Kaczynski, the infamous domestic terrorist behind a 17-year bombing campaign that became the FBI's longest manhunt in American history.

Directed by Danish filmmaker Janus Metz (Borg vs McEnroe) and written by Sam Chalsen and Nelson Greaves, the film doesn't start with explosions. It starts with a lonely, brilliant teenager walking through Harvard's gates at just 16 years old — and slowly unraveling from there.

A Stacked Cast Led by Tremblay and Russell Crowe

Tremblay plays the younger version of Kaczynski, tracing his journey from a gifted prodigy at Harvard University to a reclusive mathematician whose growing disillusionment with modern society eventually erupted into violence. The film charts how academic pressure, social isolation, and a controversial psychological experiment at Harvard allegedly pushed the brilliant student toward radicalization.

Russell Crowe steps in as the older Kaczynski — the bearded recluse in a Montana cabin whom FBI agents spent nearly two decades trying to identify. The supporting cast is equally stacked: Shailene Woodley, Annabelle Wallis, Alexander Ludwig, Steven Ogg, and Marc Menchaca round out the ensemble.

If that lineup sounds like Netflix went all-in on this one, that's because they absolutely did. The trailer, which dropped earlier this month, has already racked up millions of views and sparked heated discussion across social media.

True Crime With a Psychological Edge

What makes Unabomber stand out from the usual true-crime fare isn't the body count — it's the origin story. Metz's approach leans heavily into the psychological transformation rather than just the FBI procedural side of things. Think less Manhunt: Unabomber (the 2017 Discovery series with Sam Worthington) and more Zodiac — a slow-burn character study that happens to involve one of America's most notorious criminals.

The film reportedly explores Kaczynski's time at Harvard in the late 1950s, including his alleged participation in psychologically damaging experiments conducted by professor Henry Murray. It's a detail that previous adaptations have touched on but never fully explored, and it's apparently central to Metz's interpretation of what broke Kaczynski.

Why Millennials Should Care

This isn't just another serial killer biopic. At its core, Unabomber is a story about what happens when a brilliant mind goes unchecked — about the fine line between genius and obsession. In an era where true-crime content dominates Netflix's top charts (looking at you, Monster and Dahmer), this film feels like a natural evolution: less shock value, more substance.

The fact that Netflix is dropping it in late September — prime fall viewing season — suggests they're positioning it as awards bait, too. Tremblay's performance is already generating early Oscar buzz, which would make him one of the youngest actors to transition from child star to serious dramatic contender since Haley Joel Osment.

Unabomber premieres on Netflix on September 25, 2026. Mark your calendar — this one's going to be everywhere.