or


[07/18/19 - 10:01 AM]
Documentary "Unmasking Jihadi John: Anatomy of a Terrorist," Debuts July 31 on HBO
The revealing documentary examines what propelled Mohammed Emwazi's journey down a violent path despite US and British authorities being aware of his extremism.

[via press release from HBO]

DOCUMENTARY "UNMASKING JIHADI JOHN: ANATOMY OF A TERRORIST," DEBUTS JULY 31 ON HBO

An Inside Account Of The Origin, Evolution And Capture Of One Of The Most Brutal Terrorists In Recent Years

Mohammed Emwazi was a grade school student in London with a promising future ahead of him in 1995. By 2014, he had become known as "Jihadi John," a masked ISIS terrorist in Syria who internationalized his notoriety by broadcasting his beheadings of Western hostages on the internet.

From Oscar(R)-nominated, BAFTA and Emmy(R)-winning director Anthony Wonke (HBO's "The Battle for Marjah"), and BAFTA-winning producer and investigative journalist Richard Kerbaj, UNMASKING JIHADI JOHN: ANATOMY OF A TERRORIST debuts WEDNESDAY, JULY 31 (8:00-9:40 p.m. ET/PT), exclusively on HBO.

The documentary will also be available on HBO NOW, HBO GO, HBO On Demand and partners' streaming platforms.

The revealing documentary examines what propelled Emwazi's journey down a violent path despite US and British authorities being aware of his extremism. It also highlights the self-declared operational failures by counter-terrorism officials as Emwazi became ISIS's chief executioner and propagandist.

Emwazi's brutality is illustrated through harrowing, first-hand accounts from his surviving hostages, and the collaboration between the world's leading intelligence agencies, including the CIA and Britain's intelligence agents, who ultimately tracked him down and ended his life.

UNMASKING JIHADI JOHN: ANATOMY OF A TERRORIST includes rare footage of Emwazi as a young boy in London and interviews with his schoolteachers who reveal that he lived a relatively comfortable and normal childhood. His behavior grew more disconcerting in his teenage years. Vulnerable, malleable, and influenced by members of local gangs, his increasingly extremist views landed him on a terrorism watchlist. After a series of run-ins with British intelligence agents who tried to recruit him as an informant, Emwazi fled for Syria and went on to join ISIS; the film uses original audio recordings of Emwazi himself complaining about his interactions with the British security services. It also illustrates accounts of actual events with recreation, archive footage and video filmed by the Islamic State.

He was quickly elevated through the terrorist group's ranks and generated international attention through his brutal behavior and canny use of social media. His stylized ransom messages and horrific beheading videos shocked the world when they were posted on YouTube and Twitter, and subsequently reported on by international media.

Featuring extraordinary first-hand accounts from surviving hostages Nicolas Henin and Federico Motka, as well as interviews with family members of executed hostages James Foley and David Haines, the film examines the torturous treatment of those held in captivity by Emwazi, the desperate attempts by their loved ones to have them released, and the heartbreaking and psychological turmoil they endured.

The documentary features interviews with CIA, Pentagon, and British intelligence officials who have never spoken publicly about the operation until now, including General David Petraeus (Head of US Central Command / CIA Director), Douglas H. Wise (CIA, Middle East Operations), and Colonel Steve Warren (Pentagon Spokesperson, Coalition Forces), who provide a detailed account of the hunt for Emwazi. They also reflect on the origins of ISIS, the rise to power of its leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi out of the chaos of the Iraq war, and the lessons learned - as well as the questions that remain - from their interactions with Emwazi.

UNMASKING JIHADI JOHN: ANATOMY OF A TERRORIST is a Nutopia production in association with HBO, Channel Four and Livedrop Media. It is directed by Anthony Wonke and written and produced by Richard Kerbaj. Executive producers for Nutopia: Jane Root, Lynne Kirby, Mike Lerner, Peter Lovering; director of photography, Kevin White; editor, Paul Monaghan. For HBO: executive producer, Nancy Abraham; senior producer, Sara Rodriguez.





  [july 2019]  
S
M
T
W
T
F
S
 


· SHOWATCH
(series past and present)
· DEVWATCH
(series in development)
· MOVIEWATCH
(tv movies and mini-series)





[10/17/25 - 09:05 AM]
All-New Season of "The Last Woodsmen" Premieres Friday, November 14 at 9PM ET/PT on Discovery
Deep in the untamed wilderness of the Pacific Northwest, veteran logger Jared Douglas returns to put everything on the line in the new season.

[10/17/25 - 09:01 AM]
Video: "Mob War: Philadelphia vs. The Mafia" - Sneak Peek - Netflix
A brutal mob war between John Stanfa and Joey Merlino plunges '90s Philadelphia into chaos and bloodshed in this captivating true-crime series.

[10/17/25 - 08:31 AM]
Video: "Me late que si" - Official Trailer - Netflix
A desperate, ordinary man, fed up with his misfortune, hatches a daring heist and assembles a very unusual group to attempt the impossible: stealing a live lottery jackpot.

[10/17/25 - 08:00 AM]
"Weapons" Begins Streaming Exclusively on HBO Max October 24
When all but one child from the same class mysteriously vanish on the same night at 2:17 a.m., a community is left questioning who or what is behind their disappearance.

[10/17/25 - 07:01 AM]
Video: "My Secret Santa" - Official Trailer - Netflix
A vivacious single-mom (Alexandra Breckenridge) in need of a job decides to disguise herself as a man in order to get hired as the seasonal Santa at a luxury ski resort.

[10/17/25 - 07:01 AM]
"Euphoria" Season 3 Is Coming Spring 2026
Newly announced cast members include Gideon Adlon, Bill Bodner, Colleen Camp, Danielle Deadwyler, Homer Gere, Jessica Blair Herman, Natasha Lyonne, Hemky Madera, Kwame Patterson, Trisha Paytas, Rebecca Pidgeon, Bella Podaras, Cailyn Rice, Eli Roth, Madison Thompson, Jack Topalian, Sam Trammell, Matthew Willig.

[10/17/25 - 06:01 AM]
Video: "Eloa the Hostage: Live on TV" - Official Trailer - Netflix
This gripping documentary explores the case of a teenage girl who was kidnapped by her ex-boyfriend in one of Brazil's most shocking hostage situations.

[10/17/25 - 06:01 AM]
Apple Is the Exclusive New Broadcast Partner for Formula 1 in the U.S.
Apple TV will deliver comprehensive coverage of Formula 1, with all practice, qualifying, Sprint sessions, and Grands Prix available to Apple TV subscribers.

[10/16/25 - 02:11 PM]
Video: National Geographic Unveils First Look at "Chris Hemsworth: A Road Trip to Remember" - A Powerful and Heartfelt Special Featuring the Global Movie Star on His Most Personal Journey Yet
The one-hour documentary, from Academy Award-nominated filmmaker Darren Aronofsky's Protozoa, Jane Root's Nutopia, and Chris Hemsworth and Ben Grayson's Wild State, premieres November 23 at 9:00/8:00c on National Geographic and streams the next day on Disney+ and Hulu.

[10/16/25 - 12:58 PM]
Lifetime Announces Annual "It's a Wonderful Lifetime" Holiday Movie Slate Kicking Off November 29th
Featured talent this year includes Brandy Norwood, Kane & Katelyn Brown, Loretta Devine, Debbi Morgan, Arielle Kebbel, Tyler Hilton, James Lafferty, Vivica A. Fox, Jackée Harry, Sy'Rai Smith, Nischelle Turner, Jeffrey Bowyer-Chapman, and others.

[10/16/25 - 12:31 PM]
Video: "The Witcher" Season 4 - Character Trailer - Netflix
Scattered to fates unknown, Geralt, Yennefer and Ciri traverse the war-torn Continent and its countless enemies in the hope of finding each other again.

[10/16/25 - 11:32 AM]
A+E Global Media and Rachael Ray's Free Food Studios Cook Up Expanded Programming Partnership with Over 100 New Episodes Ordered
The network has ordered 110 new episodes of Ray's programming, including new episodes of "Meals in Minutes," that will continue to focus on her approachable and comforting cooking style.

[10/16/25 - 11:18 AM]
Video: "Don't Date Brandon" - Official Trailer - Paramount+
Brandon seemed like the perfect boyfriend, but when Amber reaches out to his ex-wife Athena, the truth begins to unravel, revealing a disturbing history of lies, restraining orders, and a criminal past.

[10/16/25 - 11:01 AM]
"Pop Culture Jeopardy!," from Sony Pictures Television, Returns for a Second Season on Netflix
"We couldn't be more thrilled to be partnering with the exemplary team at Netflix, to bring more episodes to our passionate and loyal viewers," said Suzanne Prete.

[10/16/25 - 11:00 AM]
CBS Unwraps a Festive Holiday Lineup!
CBS celebrates the 2025 holiday season with an all-new lineup of joyful holiday programming!