PROJECT: MKULTRA Series About CIA ‘Mind Control’ Experiments in Development at HBO

The show Stranger Things includes many nods to the world of Dungeons & Dragons, but as the series delved into Eleven’s (Jane’s) past – and her mother Terry’s involvement with the experiments at Hawkins Laboratory – it drew inspiration from a dark period in real history. The show revealed Terry participated in Project MKUltra, a CIA experiment that used drugs, abuse, and torture in an attempt to control people’s minds. This echoes the actual MKUltra program, which is now the subject of a new limited series, Project: MKUltra, currently in development at HBO.

As a total film buff, I recently learned about this incredibly unsettling real-life operation that happened back in the ’50s and ’60s. It involved the CIA experimenting on people – some volunteered, but many didn’t have a choice. They were subjected to some truly horrific things, like dangerous drugs and even torture, all in the name of trying to force confessions out of them. Basically, the government was attempting to develop techniques to control people’s minds. Honestly, it’s a deeply strange and disturbing story, and it feels like something ripped straight out of a thriller.

HBO is developing a new series called Project: MKUltra from David Chase, the creator of The Sopranos. He’s writing the show and is expected to be its showrunner. While no actors have been announced yet, it would be intriguing to see someone from Stranger Things cast, given that show recently brought this historical topic to a wider audience, according to Deadline.

The series Project MKUltra is a suspenseful thriller focusing on Sidney Gottlieb, a CIA chemist and spy. Gottlieb, nicknamed ‘The Black Sorcerer,’ ran highly dangerous and often fatal experiments. The show’s Dr. Brenner is heavily inspired by this real-life figure, and we’re eager to see how much of the true story the series reveals.

Read More

2025-10-23 18:32