David Chase returns to HBO: new limited series probes the CIA’s mysterious Black Sorcerer

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• HBO picks up a true‑crime Cold War saga
  • What the new series is
• The book and the journalist behind the story
• Sidney Gottlieb: the scientist at the center
• Creative team and production details
  • Known production facts
• Why this matters for David Chase and TV
• Context: The Sopranos era and Chase’s stance
• What viewers and critics might expect
• Additional notes on Chase’s current slate and representation

David Chase, the mind behind The Sopranos, is returning to HBO with a new, fact‑based limited series that digs into one of the CIA’s darkest chapters. The project adapts recent investigative reporting into a dramatic narrative, promising a blend of historical scrutiny and suspenseful storytelling.

HBO picks up a true‑crime Cold War saga

HBO has greenlit a limited series titled Project: MKUltra, developed from a non‑fiction book that traces the CIA’s covert experiments. The network that turned Chase into a household name will host his next major television work.

What the new series is

• The show is a limited series adaptation of John Lisle’s investigative book.
• It centers on the clandestine MKUltra program and its chief architect.
• The aim is to dramatize real testimony, secret files and the human cost of the experiments.

The book and the journalist behind the story

John Lisle’s book, which serves as the series’ source, compiles newly revealed documents and depositions. Lisle rebuilt a narrative from fragments left after official records were destroyed.

The author’s reporting reopens questions about oversight, ethics and the long shadow of Cold War paranoia.

Sidney Gottlieb: the scientist at the center

The series examines the life and work of Sidney Gottlieb, the chemist who led the MKUltra program. Known informally as a clandestine spymaster, Gottlieb directed experiments on both consented and non‑consenting subjects.

• Gottlieb shaped experiments with psychoactive drugs and sensory manipulation.
• After retiring, he destroyed many papers, complicating efforts to fully document the program.
• Historians also link his actions to unintended cultural consequences, including aspects of the LSD counterculture.

Creative team and production details

David Chase will adapt and executive produce the series. He is joined by Nicole Lambert, who serves as Head of Production and Development at Riverain Pictures and will also executive produce.

Riverain Pictures will shepherd the project for HBO, pairing Chase’s storytelling voice with the studio’s production resources.

Known production facts

• Format: limited series for HBO.
• Lead producers: David Chase and Nicole Lambert.
• Studio: Riverain Pictures in partnership with HBO.

Why this matters for David Chase and TV

Chase’s return marks a significant moment. He concluded The Sopranos in 2007 and has worked on a few projects since, but this is a major television comeback on the network that defined him.

At 80, Chase still pursues long‑form storytelling. He has earned multiple Primetime Emmys and remains a defining figure in modern television.

Context: The Sopranos era and Chase’s stance

Chase has previously signaled ambivalence about revisiting his past work. In recent years he suggested the so‑called Golden Age of TV was past its peak. Still, his choice to adapt this subject shows he sees room for bold, serious television.

What viewers and critics might expect

The series is likely to blend historical drama with moral inquiry. Expect a focus on:

• government secrecy and accountability;
• scientific ethics and human experimentation;
• the Cold War climate that enabled extreme measures.

Project: MKUltra could also probe the cultural fallout from clandestine drug experimentation.

Additional notes on Chase’s current slate and representation

Alongside this series, Chase is attached to an independent film project slated to shoot soon. His representatives include UTA and several other agencies handling legal and publicity matters.

Industry outlets first reported the HBO deal, and production details will likely emerge as the adaptation moves into development and casting.