iHeartPodcasts Sets 9/11 Mafia Drama 'UnderGround Zero'

RADIO ONLINE | Monday, August 24, 2026 | 2:44pm CT

''UnderGround Zero: 9/11 & The Mob''

iHeartPodcasts, Thoroughbred Studios and Goldhawk Productions will launch "UnderGround Zero: 9/11 & The Mob," a scripted drama starring several former "The Sopranos" cast members and based on events surrounding organized crime in the aftermath of the September 11 attacks.

The series, written and created by Stephen Kronish, will premiere September 1, with all episodes released simultaneously. Michael Imperioli leads the cast and serves as an executive producer, with Steve Schirripa, Ray Abruzzo and Arthur Nascarella also starring.

"UnderGround Zero" dramatizes the story of members of New York's organized crime families who allegedly saw an opportunity to profit from the massive recovery and cleanup effort following the destruction of the World Trade Center. The story follows their scheme and a police officer whose investigation ultimately helped bring down participants.

Producers say the drama is based on real events, although names have been changed and some events dramatized. The series centers on two men whose lives intersect as they confront their pasts and each other.

"As a New Yorker who lived through 9/11, this story resonated with me immediately," said Imperioli, who plays Lt. Frank Sturiano. "UnderGround Zero is rooted in crime and investigation, but ultimately, it's a story about family, loyalty and survival."

Schirripa said the project revealed a side of the aftermath of the attacks that was unfamiliar to him. "It was a story I thought I knew, but I didn't," he said, adding that working again with former "Sopranos" castmates Abruzzo and Nascarella made the project particularly meaningful.

"UnderGround Zero" is the third historical drama from the collaboration between iHeartPodcasts and Thoroughbred Studios, following "Buzz" and "Saigon." Thoroughbred Studios is a joint venture involving former Time Warner Chairman and CEO Jeff Bewkes, former Sony Corporation Chairman and CEO Sir Howard Stringer and television veteran Jeremy Fox.

"One of the first things I did when I became Head of HBO was to greenlight 'The Sopranos,'" Bewkes said. "Now, 25 years later to tell this important story, it was the perfect opportunity to bring back that amazing cast."

The production was recorded in New York with a cast composed largely of New Yorkers, including performers who experienced September 11 firsthand.

"Great storytelling has the power to transport listeners and bring history to life in a deeply personal way," said iHeartPodcasts President Will Pearson. He said the decision to make the entire series available on its premiere date is intended to allow listeners to fully immerse themselves in the story.

"UnderGround Zero" will be distributed by iHeartPodcasts and available September 1 through the iHeartRadio app and other podcast platforms.