exclusive: 9/12, Six-episode limited series starring and executive produced by Emmy and Tony Award winner Jeremy Strongsuccession, Springsteen: Save me from nowhere), has been officially approved by Paramount+. The project, which follows 9/11 first responders' David-and-Goliath legal battle for compensation, is one of the first two series ordered by the streamer's new regime, led by DTC president Cindy Holland and head of originals Jane Wiseman, who called it “the kind of ambitious, resonant narrative that Paramount+ will champion.”
9/12 Join the legal thriller carefulstarring Nicole Kidman and Elle Fanning, has just been given the chance to go straight to series. Among the two, 9/12written, directed and executive produced by Tobias Lindholm (investigation) written and executive produced by Frank Pugliese (house of cards), at a more advanced stage. The series, produced by Paramount Television Studios and “Sisters,” was originally scheduled to begin filming in August, but production has been mired in the lengthy regulatory approval process required for Skydance's $8 billion merger with Paramount Worldwide. The film will be released on Paramount+ in summer 2026 and will be released in theaters in 2027.
9/12 It is the first original production to be launched from the revitalized Paramount Television Studios under the oversight of chairman Dana Goldberg and president Matt Tunnell. It dramatizes a landmark case that reshaped the fight for accountability: a relentless legal battle that lasted nearly a decade to obtain nearly $1 billion in damages for first responders who fell seriously ill after 9/11.
Acclaimed class action attorney Jason Smith is a powerful star, a composite fictional character inspired by real-life figures who risks everything to take on entrenched institutions, exposing the politics, greed, corruption, and betrayal that fueled the tragedy of the extraordinary unity and bravery of emergency workers when the World Trade Center collapsed.
9/12 “Ask what happens when people who risk everything are abandoned by the institutions designed to protect them,” Lindholm said. “This series is a testament to human strength and perseverance in the face of unimaginable adversity—it’s that tension that compelled me to tell this story.”
In a lengthy, thoughtful statement (which you can read in full below), Strong reflected on how first responders responded to the event on 9/11 and in the weeks after, and were systematically failed in the years that followed.
“9/12 This is a story about justice, about restoring human dignity, and about the real-life heroes of this country who we must never forget. ” Strong said, calling Lindholm “one of the greatest writer/directors in the world who had the depth, restraint, integrity, clarity and power to honor this story. “
Tobias Lindholm and Frank Pugliese
Photo by Michael Buckner for Deadline/Getty
9/12 Originally established in 2021 in Sister as The best of us After Holland resigned as Sister's global CEO, he moved to Skydance Television and became a senior advisor to Skydance CEO David Ellison on the Paramount global streaming deal.
After entering the express lane, 9/12 Development on the film was progressing well, and by this spring it was gearing up for production, becoming Skydance's first and only production to be budgeted under Skydance's agreement with Paramount. The new spending comes as the FCC review takes far longer than expected 9/12 There was a pause in early May, and a few weeks later the project was shelved entirely.
As Deadline reported at the time, Skydance remained committed to the series. Following the completion of Skydance's acquisition of Paramount in August, 9/12 Paramount Television Studios is back on track, a new streaming-focused studio that absorbs Skydance Television and Showtime/MTV Entertainment Studios. Goldberg called it a special project for everyone involved and a priority for the studio, 9/12 It took a while to get official approval because the schedule had to be adjusted to accommodate Strong's existing commitments, including his starring role in Peter Morgan's new Netflix series boy from brazil.
Tunnel also participated 9/12 Before serving as president of Skydance TV, he worked at Netflix, where he produced shows including house of cards Pugliese serves as writer, producer and co-showrunner.
“Tobias has created a heroic underdog story, and we know Jeremy will do a great job bringing this story to life,” Tunell said. “I'm thrilled to be reunited with Frank, and we're equally proud to be working with Sister on this timeless story as our first limited series for Paramount+.”
On Paramount+, 9/12 The series is overseen by Wiseman, who previously served as head of US television for Sisters, where he was responsible for developing the series.
“This project reminds us why storytelling is important,” she said. “Working with visionaries like Tobias, Frank and Jeremy sets the tone for the ambitious, resonant narratives Paramount+ will champion.”
Strong is about to be nominated for an Oscar apprentice. this is his 9/12 statement, This appears to be a reference to the series' original title, The best of us:
The great American historian David Halberstam once wrote on September 11, 2001: “On the day when the worst of humanity emerged, the best of humanity responded.”
9/12 was about the best of us – our first responders, whose official response time on 9/11 was 5 seconds. This is a moment of unity for this divided nation as we rebuild from the ashes and rise again from the ashes. But it’s also about the failure of our institutions to respond when these heroes need it most — and we swear we’ll never forget them.
9/12 is a story about justice, about the restoration of human dignity, and about the real-life heroes in this country that we must never forget. Tobias Lindholm is one of the world's greatest writer/directors, and he has the depth, restraint, integrity, clarity, and power to honor this story.