Union Editorial & Netflix Together Again for ‘American Manhunt: Osama bin Laden’
A decade of tension comes down to critical moments of action in the expansive post team’s new outing, which has quickly risen to #1 on Netflix, with a 100% score on Rotten Tomatoes
AMERICAN MANHUNT: OSAMA BIN LADEN debuted on Netflix May 14, with Union Editorial’s Katherine LeBlond as a producer and Jim Haygood as Supervising Editor, supported by a sprawling Union team. A day later, it officially claimed the #1 spot for the United States and as of today, it is #1 internationally. This three-part docuseries from directors Mor Loushy and Daniel Sivan reveals the bin Laden manhunt through the eyes of the intelligence agents and department heads on the mission to bring bin Laden to justice after the September 11th, 2001 attacks on the United States. Through these interviews and extensive archives this series focuses on the decade-long mission to capture one of the world’s most notorious terrorists.
AMERICAN MANHUNT: OSAMA BIN LADEN has garnered stellar reviews, attaining a 100% score from critics on Rotten Tomatoes. As Forbespoints out, “The 100% score is roughly on par with the other two entries in Netflix’s American Manhunt series: American Manhunt: The Trial of O.J. Simpson (2024), which also holds a 100%,” which happens to mark the Union team’s prior collaboration with Netflix.
Netflix invited Union into the mix on the American Manhunt series in the summer of 2023. Production companies Ventureland and The Cut were coming off of a very successful launch of Season 1, which focused on the Boston Marathon bombing. “The decision was made to execute two seasons simultaneously, which meant a big team, particularly in post,” LeBlond recalled.
First to be released was AMERICAN MANHUNT: OJ SIMPSON, which debuted January 29 and quickly rose to #1 in the streamer’s TV Shows Top Ten. Among Union’s many contributions in bringing this story to the screen was combing through 12,858 pieces of archival footage from 682 archival vendors. LeBlond and Haygood served as Producer and Supervising Editor, respectively, on that season as well. It was directed by Floyd Russ, who serves as an EP on all three seasons.
“Season 3 made for quite a different manhunt, given that OJ's manhunt was technically less than four hours and the Boston Bombers were pursued for four and a half days,” said LeBlond. “It took a decade to find bin Laden, so the stories and the ticking clock are fascinating from an inside perspective. Osama bin Laden is a name most any generation recognizes globally, but the story's details are compelling and very revealing.”
"We’ve worked with Daniel and Mor on several projects, and once again their incredible creativity and attention to detail are on full display,” said Haygood. “The hunt for the most notorious criminal in US history is one of those stories you might think you know, but the access to US intelligence insiders is new, making it riveting and fresh.”
Union previously collaborated with the directors on Netflix's THE DEVIL NEXTDOOR, SINS OF THE AMISH for Peacock, and their 2020 feature documentary, KINGS OF CAPITOL HILL.
Other successful Union-Netflix collaborations include OUTSTANDING: A COMEDY REVOLUTION and GOLD & GREED: THE HUNT FOR FENN’S TREASURE.
Credits
Client: Netflix
Production Company: The Cut Productions
Production Company: Ventureland
Directors: Mor Loushy and Daniel Sivan
Executive Producers: William Green (The Cut), Aaron Ginsburg (The Cut), Ali Brown (Ventureland), Kerstin Emhoff (Ventureland), Floyd Russ, Tiller Russell,
Co-EPs: Mor Loushy, Daniel Sivan, Tina Gazzerro Clapp
Producers: Michael Radutzky, Alec MacRae, Katherine LeBlond
Co-Producers: Omar Al Dakheel, Dom Faust
Head of Production (Ventureland): Adam Bardach
Supervising Producer (Ventureland): Martine Jean
Post Production: Union Editorial
Supervising Editor: Jim Haygood
Producer: Katherine LeBlond
Editors: Jesse Overman, Federico Rosenzvit, Adrian Murray,
Additional Editor: Zach Kashkett (Union staff)
Music: Jasha Klebe
Post Producer: Greg Bardsley
Story Producer: Phil Laaveg
Assistant Editors: John Bonenberger, Daniel Horne, Roman Petrov (Union staff), Carmen Bartolomé Valls (Union Editorial Resident)
Additional Archival Producer: Julia Palermo
Finishing: Skyline
Final Color & Mix: Skyline
Graphics: Parliament
