Unabomber Director Knew Jacob Tremblay Could Go ‘Toe-to-Toe’ With Russell Crowe | Interview

(Photo Cr. Philippe Bosse/Netflix ©2026)

Unabomber director Janus Metz spoke with ComingSoon’s Tyler Treese about the new Netflix movie. Metz discussed showing a new side to Ted Kaczynski, working with Jacob Tremblay, and more. Unabomber begins streaming on Netflix on September 25, 2026.

“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,” says the official synopsis.

Tyler Treese: I feel like we all know who the Unabomber is, but I had no clue about the CIA-funded experiments and the kind of trauma he was subjected to at Harvard. It’s really fascinating. What made you want to particularly explore that part of his life for this film?

Janus Metz: Well, as you say yourself, I mean, it’s something that isn’t known to a lot of people, that this actually took place and that it is a very relevant part of Ted Kaczynski’s evolution and us trying to understand who the Unabomber was and why he did what he did.

So I think that in itself was part of my fascination with the story. And I also feel like whenever I resonate with something, it’s because there is a character story that reaches above and beyond itself and becomes a more universally relevant story to the moment that we’re living in. And I think the Unabomber story is that.

Tyler Treese: And you have a great cast here. Russell Crowe, fantastic as always. Great stuff from him. But what shocked me was that young Jacob Tremblay, who has impressed me in past performances, meets him right there. He’s able to be just as intense in some key scenes in this film as Russell. How was it knowing that Jacob could show that other side to himself? Because he really transforms throughout this film.

When I first met Jacob, I knew him as a child actor. I was made aware of some of his more recent work that hadn’t come out yet, and it mesmerized me because I saw a kid that was willing to go the distance and that really had the capacity to go the distance with this character. So I didn’t look for anyone else but Jacob. He was my first and only choice for this role. I think he just did such a tremendous, great job.

Russell was also great with Jacob. They loved working together, and I think you can feel that. At least as a director, I felt that very clearly when they went toe-to-toe, that here were two people that just really enjoyed playing, being in these scenes together.

I know Jacob sometimes talks about how he also kind of idolized and respected and had been inspired by Russell’s performances and his career. And I think it’s intrinsic to the story, right? A young Ted Kaczynski finds sort of an inspirational father figure in Henry Murray, which is the Russell Crowe character. And so that relationship, too, works for the story dramatically.

Tyler Treese: I feel like anytime we see a portrait of a killer like this, where we show nuance, some people view it as being forgiving and apologetic to their crimes. I don’t feel like the film does this, but how was it trying to depict the sense of humanity in a man who wound up murdering and maiming people? Because we see him younger, and he’s not really the Unabomber that people expect.

Janus Metz: Yeah. I mean, first off, I want to say that we can never condone or excuse the atrocious acts that Ted Kaczynski, the Unabomber, committed. That being said, he wasn’t always the Unabomber. There was a kid called Ted Kaczynski before the Unabomber existed, and things happened to him.

I only think we can try to learn from that story to try and understand better: How is it possible that someone isolates themselves out in the woods and starts constructing letter bombs and killing people? I think the story contributes to that.

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Thanks to Janus Metz for taking the time to talk about Unabomber.

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