High Value Target: The Hunt for Saddam
Limited series based on the interrogation of Saddam Hussein.
Based on John Nixon’s memoir *Debriefing the President*, the limited series *High Value Target: The Hunt for Saddam* is an upcoming American political thriller. Created by Daniel Stiepleman and Jonathan Wakeham, who also wrote it alongside Leslie Greif and Graham Sack, the show stars Joel Kinnaman as CIA agent John Nixon. The story centers on Nixon’s initial interrogation of the former Iraqi leader after his capture in December 2003, during which he searches for evidence of weapons while grappling with the fallout of the invasion. As of early 2025, no official premiere date or network has been confirmed.
Quick Facts
- Genre
- Biography / Military drama / Political thriller
- Inspired By
- Debriefing the President · John Nixon
- Writer
- Leslie Greif / Graham Sack / Daniel Stiepleman / Jonathan Wakeham
- Starring
- Joel Kinnaman / Waleed Zuaiter / Lena Góra / Rebecca Night / Tom Berenger / Christopher McDonald / Dar Salim / Paul Ryan / Ewan Miller / Matt Barr / Talia Balsam
- Country
- United States
- Language
- English
- Executive Producer
- Alexander Rodnyansky / Jason Sarlanis / Sam Linsky / Staurt Manashil / Michael Kupisk / Tamar Mortada / Joel Kinnaman / Leslie Greif / John Nixon
- Cinematography
- Xavier Dolléans
- Company
- AR Content / Big Dreams Entertainment
- Network
- TNT
Facts from the source article.
Lore & Background
The series explores the first interrogation of Saddam Hussein by CIA agent John Nixon following his capture in December 2003. Nixon seeks answers in search of weapons while he is forced to confront the consequences and ramifications of the invasion. The cast includes Joel Kinnaman as John Nixon, with additional roles yet to be officially confirmed as of early 2025.
Reader's Guide
High Value Target: The Hunt for Saddam adapts the real-world account of CIA analyst John Nixon's interrogation of Saddam Hussein after his capture in 2003. The series dramatizes Nixon's search for weapons of mass destruction and the moral complexities of the Iraq War. Its significance lies in bringing a high-profile historical interrogation to a dramatic format, based on Nixon's memoir. The series was initially developed as a film in 2018 with director Ziad Doueiri, then redeveloped as a limited series by 2023. It received a greenlight from TNT in August 2024. Filming took place in Egypt. The series is scheduled to premiere in the United States on September 13, 2026, and in the MENA region on September 9, 2026, on WATCH IT.
Did You Know?
- The series is inspired by the memoir Debriefing the President by John Nixon.
- Joel Kinnaman was cast in February 2023; no other casting has been officially announced as of early 2025.
- No casting changes or filming locations have been publicly confirmed for this series as of early 2025.
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