Joel Kinnaman's New CIA Thriller Series Debuts To Rare Rotten Tomatoes Score

Published Sep 15, 2026, 5:04 PM EDT Jeff Dodge (he/him), a published author and graduate of Western Washington University, has been a TV news editor for many years and has had the chance to interview multiple reality show stars, including Randy Jackson, Nick Cannon, Heidi Klum, Mel B and John Cena. Fun Fact: he’s been to every single Idol Live! Tour. Joel Kinnaman is starring in a new political thriller called High Value Target: The Hunt for Saddam, and the series has made its debut on Rotten Tomatoes with a rare score from critics. Created by Daniel Stiepleman and Jonathan Wakeham, High Value Target centers on the real-life story of CIA Agent John Nixon's interrogation of Saddam Hussein after the United States military captured the former president of Iraq. Kinnaman is portraying Nixon in the series, while Waleed Zuaiter is playing Saddam. High Value Target: The Hunt for Saddam just premiered this week on TNT, and the thriller has already garnered an overwhelmingly positive reception from critics in its debut on Rotten Tomatoes, where it's earned a perfect score of 100%. While there aren't many reviews yet, the critics who have seen High Value Target called it gripping, engaging and fresh. While some noted the eight-episode series isn't perfect and has some flaws, it still manages to provide a dramatic and politically charged story that keeps viewers immersed in the show. One reviewer found Kinnaman's performance strong enough to have fans coming back week after week. Screen Rant's Guy Howie gave High Value Target a score of 6 out of 10, saying that the series is "refreshingly nuanced," even if it lacks suspense. So far, there are no audience reviews on Rotten Tomatoes. Kinnaman and Zuaiter's co-stars in High Value Target are Lena Góra, Rebecca Night, Tom Berenger, Christopher McDonald, Dar Salim, Paul Ryan, Ewan Miller, Matt Barr and Talia Balsam. The producing team includes Alexander Rodnyansky, Jason Sarlanis, Sam Linsky, Stuart Manashil, Michael Kupisk, Tamer Mortada and Leslie Greif. With series like The Closer, Rizzoli & Isles, Franklin & Bash, The Last Ship and The Librarians, there was a time when TNT aired a lot more original scripted content than they do now. After pulling back for a few years, TNT has started investing in original shows once more with High Value Target and The Librarians: The Next Chapter. Before High Value Target, Kinnaman appeared in the films The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, The Darkest Hour, Safe House, RoboCop, Suicide Squad and The Suicide Squad. On the small screen, he starred in The Killing, House of Cards, Altered Carbon, Hanna, In Treatment, Jo Nesbø's Detective Hole and Imperfect Women. Kinnaman spent the past seven years playing Edward Baldwin on Apple TV's hit sci-fi series For All Mankind, a role that earned him a Saturn Award nomination for Best Supporting Actor on Television (Streaming). After High Value Target ends in early October, he can next be seen back on the big screen in The Beast with Samuel L. Jackson. Until that action film arrives in theaters, though, fans can tune in to TNT twice a week to see his portrayal of John Nixon, whose memoir Debriefing the President serves as the basis for High Value Target. High Value Target: The Hunt for Saddam airs Sundays and Mondays at 9 p.m. EDT on TNT. Release Date September 13, 2026 Network TNT Directors Krzysztof Skonieczny Cast High Value Target is a 2026 film depicting CIA analyst John Nixon's pivotal role in identifying and interrogating Saddam Hussein in 2003, focusing on the potential ramifications of Hussein's capture, and highlighting the ensuing geopolitical and humanitarian challenges stemming from the invasion. Main Genre Drama Executive Producer(s) Alexander Rodnyansky, Joel Kinnaman, Leslie Greif, Michael Kupisk, Peter Gerwe, Shelley Browning, Stuart Manashil Producers Cristian Bostanescu, Eric Tomosunas Seasons 1