According to Deadline, Jeff Daniels has signed on to star in The Looming Tower, Hulu’s drama series based on Lawrence Wright’s Pulitzer-winning book of the same name. The series is based around the lead-up to (and presumably aftermath of) the 9/11 terrorist attacks, with Daniels playing FBI counterterrorism chief John O’Neill and Tahar Rahim playing Ali Soufan, one of his most-trusted protégés. The Looming Tower will reportedly take a “controversial look” at how the rivalry between the CIA and FBI may have inadvertently allowed the 9/11 attacks to happen, with Daniels’ character realizing that Al-Qaeda is targeting the U.S. while his “frequently antagonistic” counterpart at the CIA refuses to heed his warnings.
Considering that we all know how this story ends, it seems like a pretty grim premise for a TV show, but hopefully it’s not just hour after hour of grim portents and misery. The series is set to premiere at some point this year.