Full Breakdown
David Chase Unveils LSD Film and HBO Series at Karlovy Vary Amid Censorship Concerns
7/8/2026, 6:12:50 AM
Core Announcement: LSD Film and HBO Series Unveiled at Karlovy Vary
At the 60th Karlovy Vary International Film Festival, HBO creator David Chase announced two LSD-focused projects. The first is an untitled 1950s feature that contrasts the CIA’s plan to weaponize LSD with the rollout of the polio vaccine. The second is a limited series, “Project: MKUltra,” adapted from John Lisle’s *Project Mind Control* and centered on CIA chemist Sidney Gottlieb.
Background: Chase’s Television Career
Chase is the seven-time Emmy-winning creator of *The Sopranos* (1999-2007), a series that earned 21 Emmys and reshaped premium-cable drama. He later directed *Not Fade Away* (2012) and wrote the prequel *The Many Saints of Newark* (2021). The new projects mark his return to both film and television after a 19-year hiatus from TV writing.
Official Statements & Responses
HBO describes the series as a “dramatic thriller” about dangerous mind-control experiments. Chase said the CIA “bought millions and millions and millions of dollars of [LSD] because they wanted to weaponize it,” noting that LSD was invented and developed in Switzerland before U.S. acquisition. He added that the program “was meant to make people go crazy instead of getting shot.”
Criticism & Opposition: Concerns About Censorship
Chase expressed unease about the current political climate, saying, “Since Trump, I’ve been concerned it’s only a little hop or a skip up to censorship.” He recalled network-era limits on minor content and warned that “political stuff” could face tighter controls, likening the prospect to a revived Hays Code.
Why It Matters: Cultural Impact, Data, and Reporting Gaps
The projects revive public attention to a secretive CIA program and test Hollywood’s willingness to address politically sensitive history. Chase’s seven-Emmy record and *The Sopranos*’ 21 Emmys underscore his cultural weight. He noted that the CIA purchased “millions and millions and millions of dollars” of LSD, a drug invented in Switzerland. Sources differ on the film’s focus—Variety cites a “young woman college DJ,” while TheWrap and Dark Horizons describe a family narrative—highlighting gaps in public information.
Verbatim Quotes
- “Since Trump, I’ve been concerned it’s only a little big or a hop, skip and a jump up to censorship,” — David Chase, creator, HBO
- “I used to work on network television, and you couldn’t have a person burp on camera, you couldn’t show the toilet bowl, the gun going off, the person getting shot…” — David Chase
- “Speaking at the Karlovy Vary International Film Festival, David Chase said, “There’s so much to the whole MKUltra story, so many wild people.” — David Chase
- “LSD was invented in Switzerland, developed in Switzerland and our CIA bought millions and millions and millions of dollars of it because they wanted to weaponize it,” — David Chase
What’s Next
Chase remains “in the story stage” for the series and is prioritizing the feature film. Production details are pending, but both projects are slated for future development under HBO.
