Renowned creator David Chase, known for the iconic series The Sopranos, is set to explore a chilling episode in CIA history with his upcoming project, Project: MKUltra. This limited series is currently in development at HBO and marks Chase’s first return to series television since his groundbreaking mob drama.
The series is based on John Lisle’s non-fiction book, Project Mind Control: Sidney Gottlieb, the CIA, and the Tragedy of MKUltra. Chase has secured the rights to adapt this gripping narrative, which details the controversial experiments conducted under the MKUltra program during the Cold War era. Chase will pen the script for the adaptation, which is being produced under his first-look deal with HBO through his company, Riverain Pictures.
Project: MKUltra will delve into the dark life of Sidney Gottlieb, a chemist and spymaster often referred to as The Black Sorcerer. He led the CIA’s MKUltra program, infamous for its perilous mind control experiments on both willing and unwitting subjects. These experiments involved administering psychedelic drugs, hypnosis, and other extreme measures, all aimed at countering perceived threats from Soviet and Chinese brainwashing techniques. The resulting repercussions were significant, as many individuals were subjected to these tests without their consent, raising profound ethical questions.
Chase’s collaborative efforts with Nicole Lambert, who serves as Head of Production and Development at Riverain Pictures, will see both serving as executive producers for this engrossing series.
Chase, a seven-time Emmy winner, with five accolades for The Sopranos, has continued to shape the television and film landscape since the series finale in 2007. He shifted focus to feature films with projects like 2012’s Not Fade Away and the 2021 Sopranos prequel, The Many Saints of Newark. In addition to this new series, he has an independent film planned for production later this year and has contributed to various television projects, including a script that inspired FX’s upcoming untitled witness protection pilot starring Alison Brie.
With Project: MKUltra, Chase appears poised to revisit the complex themes of power, control, and morality, intertwining them with the rich storytelling that defined his earlier works. The series is likely to capture the attention of audiences eager for both historical insight and dramatic tension, further solidifying Chase’s legacy as a masterful storyteller in contemporary television.