The Sopranos creator David Chase is developing a new limited series for HBO, titled Project: MKUltra. This marks a return to television for Chase, who hasn't produced a TV series since The Sopranos concluded 18 years ago. The series will be based on the non-fiction book 'Project Mind Control: Sidney Gottlieb, the CIA, and the Tragedy of MKUltra' by John Lisle. It will center on Sidney Gottlieb, a chemist and spymaster known as 'The Black Sorcerer', who led the CIA's MKUltra program during the Cold War. This program conducted mind-control experiments on subjects, both willing and unwilling, which had a significant impact on the LSD counterculture. The series is described as a dramatic thriller, offering a glimpse into a dark period in CIA history. Chase's previous work includes the acclaimed HBO series The Sopranos and the prequel movie The Many Saints of Newark. He has also written and directed the film Not Fade Away. Despite his success, Chase has expressed a critical view of the current state of television, suggesting that the golden age of TV is over due to the rise of streaming platforms and the shift towards multitasking. He believes that the future of television may lie in returning to traditional commercial breaks. Project: MKUltra is set to be a thrilling addition to HBO's lineup, providing a unique perspective on a controversial chapter in CIA history.
