Paul Bettany to Play the ‘Unabomber’ In Discovery Channel Scripted Series

Actor Paul Bettany (“Gangster No. 1”) has been cast as Ted Kaczynski, a.k.a. “The Unabomber,” in Discovery’s upcoming scripted series “Manifesto,” which will detail the downfall of one of the most infamous domestic terrorists in U.S. history.

Executive produced by Kevin Spacey, Dana Brunetti, Troy Searer, and Greg Yaitanes for Kevin Spacey and Dana Brunetti’s Trigger Street, the series will be directed by Yaitanes, who will also serve as showrunner, alongside a script written by Andrew Sodroski. The series will follow FBI profiler Jim “Fitz” Fitzgerald and how he used old-school methods to track down the Unabomber.

The series marks Bettany’s first major leading role on U.S. television. He is known for his roles in films such as “A Knight’s Tale,” “A Beautiful Mind,” “Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World,” “Dogville,” “Wimbledon,” and “The Da Vinci Code.” In addition, he voiced the role J.A.R.V.I.S. in the Marvel films “Iron Man,” “Iron Man 2,” “The Avengers,” “Iron Man 3,” and “Avengers: Age of Ultron,” in which he also played Vision.

“Manifesto” is produced by Lionsgate and Trigger Street Productions. John Goldwyn will serve as executive producer on behalf of Discovery, and Jim Fitzgerald will serve as consulting producer. The series is set to air next year on the Discovery Channel.

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