Waleed Zuaiter Takes on the Role of Saddam Hussein in TNT’s Adaptation of John Nixon’s ‘Debriefing The President’
EXCLUSIVE: Waleed Zuaiter is set to portray Saddam Hussein in the upcoming series High Value Target, a television adaptation of John Nixon’s nonfiction book Debriefing the President.
Joel Kinnaman, known for his role in For All Mankind, was previously announced as the lead in the series, which is being developed for TNT in the United States. Zuaiter’s casting as the former Iraqi leader, who was executed in 2006, has now been confirmed.
The project, which initially shared the book’s title, has been rebranded as High Value Target.
This limited series chronicles the experiences of CIA analyst John Nixon, played by Kinnaman. Nixon became the first American to positively identify and interrogate Hussein following the 2003 invasion of Iraq. The narrative explores Nixon’s personal journey and the complexities of his mission, highlighting his interactions with Saddam, which provide insight into the Iraqi dictator and the broader consequences of the invasion, including the ensuing humanitarian and geopolitical turmoil.
Zuaiter, a Palestinian-American actor and producer, has previously appeared in films such as The Girlfriend, London Has Fallen, and The Men Who Stare at Goats. He also produced Omar, which won the Special Jury Prize in the Un Certain Regard section at the 2013 Cannes Film Festival and was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film.
Additionally, it has been revealed that Lena Góra will star in High Value Target. TNT also confirmed Zuaiter’s role along with other cast members, including Paul Ryan as President George W. Bush and Danielle Lewis portraying Condoleezza Rice. The cast further includes Tom Berenger and Christopher McDonald.
The series is produced by AR Content and StoryFirst, with Academy Award nominee Alexander Rodnyansky (Leviathan) and Leslie Greif (Hatfields & McCoys) serving as producers. Kinnaman is also an executive producer. Although there is no official release date yet, filming has concluded after a production period in Egypt.
Escapade Media is managing international distribution and has already secured pre-sales in several territories, with further announcements expected in the near future.
