HBO has unveiled its most ambitious journalistic portrait yet: “The Truth Never Ends,” a 10-part documentary series chronicling the life and legacy of David Muir, the Emmy-winning anchor of ABC’s World News Tonight. Premiering worldwide this fall on October 15, 2025, the series, directed by Oscar-nominated filmmaker Alex Gibney (Enron: The Smartest Guys in the Room), promises to peel back the layers of the man who has become synonymous with measured, unflinching reporting in an era of polarized media. At 51, Muir isn’t just a news anchor—he’s a symbol of integrity, and this HBO project aims to immortalize that.
What sets “The Truth Never Ends” apart is its intimate access. Drawing from over 500 hours of unseen footage, including Muir’s personal archives, the series traces his improbable rise from a small-town boy in Syracuse, New York, to a global correspondent whose voice has narrated everything from the Arab Spring to the COVID-19 pandemic. Episodes delve into pivotal moments: Muir’s 2011 embed with U.S. troops in Afghanistan, where a roadside bomb nearly claimed his life, and his 2020 election night coverage, which drew 8.2 million viewers and earned him a Peabody Award. “David doesn’t chase stories—they chase him,” says Diane Sawyer in a rare interview, her voice laced with admiration.
The series isn’t a hagiography; it’s a reckoning. Gibney, known for exposing corporate malfeasance, turns the lens on journalism’s erosion in the social media age. Episode 3, “The Anchor’s Burden,” explores Muir’s internal struggles with burnout and the moral weight of delivering bad news daily. “You carry the world’s pain home with you,” Muir confesses in a raw, unscripted moment, wiping away tears during a 2024 shoot in his Manhattan apartment. Colleagues like Robin Roberts and George Stephanopoulos contribute poignant reflections, with Roberts recalling, “David’s empathy isn’t performative—it’s his superpower.”
Produced by Jigsaw Productions with a $15 million budget, the series features A-list narration from Viola Davis, who voices archival segments, and cameos from global figures like Malala Yousafzai, whom Muir interviewed in 2013. Filming spanned 18 months, from Muir’s Syracuse roots to war-torn Ukraine in 2022, where he covered the Russian invasion. “This isn’t about one man,” Gibney told Variety. “It’s about journalism’s soul in a time when facts are under siege. David embodies that fight.”
Early buzz is electric. A clip of Muir in Yemen, dodging gunfire to interview refugees, has garnered 2.5 million YouTube views. Critics previewing the first three episodes call it “a masterclass in emotional storytelling,” with The Hollywood Reporter praising its “unflinching look at vulnerability in power.” Muir, ever humble, told HBO, “If this reminds even one person why truth matters, it’s worth it.”
As HBO grapples with 2025 subscriber dips (down 5% YOY), “The Truth Never Ends” arrives as a prestige bet, blending The Crown‘s intimacy with The Jinx‘s intrigue. For Muir, it’s a capstone to 25 years at ABC, where he’s anchored through 9/11, Obama’s election, and COVID. In an age of deepfakes and division, the series isn’t just biography—it’s blueprint, urging viewers to demand more from their news. Muir’s journey reminds us: The truth never ends; it endures.
