Previously unseen footage of computer programmer John McAfee is revealed in an upcoming documentary which delves into his 'wild world'.
McAfee was best known for his antivirus software of the same name, which he created in 1987 following his employment at companies such as NASA, Xerox and Lockheed Martin, and ultimately sold to Intel.
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Netflix's new documentary promises to take a look at his success, but also the controversy and chaos that enveloped his life in the years afterwards.
In 2012, McAfee's neighbour was murdered in Belize and the software pioneer invited a film crew with him as he went on the run.
Running with the Devil: The Wild World of John McAfee follows the entrepreneur as he tried to escape those allegedly trying to capture him, running into the Belizean rainforest, the jungles of Guatemala and through the Bahamas.
Netflix promises to reveal the 'rise and fall of the software mogul', who spent some of his time on board a mega-yacht and travelled with guns, drugs and alcohol.
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Details of his journey have made available thanks to access to hundreds of hours of never-before-broadcast footage as well as in-depth accounts from some of the people closest to McAfee.
In 2019, McAfee claimed he had not paid US income taxes for eight years for ideological reasons and stayed away from the US to avoid trial.
He met his wife, Janice McAfee, while on the run, but the antivirus creator was ultimately arrested in Barcelona and later claimed to have faked two heart attacks in order to buy time for his attorney to file appeals. In 2021, Spain's high court agreed to extradite McAfee to the United States.
Just a few days later, McAfee was found dead in his prison cell at the age of 75.
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Prior to his death, Janice wrote on Twitter: "Now the U.S. authorities are determined to have John die in prison to make an example of him for speaking out against the corruption within their government agencies... There is no hope of him ever having a fair trial in America."
Dov Freedman, co-founder of the documentary producer Curious Films, commented: "Running With The Devil: The Wild Word of John McAfee is a story that’s been over 10 years in the making, it’s a stranger-than-fiction story like no other, about a powerful man who lived his real life like it was a high-octane Hollywood movie — and the consequences this has for those closest to him."
"We are incredibly proud to be telling this extraordinary tale for the first time for Netflix," he added.
Running with the Devil: The Wild World of John McAfee is set to be released on Netflix on 24 August.
Topics: US News, Netflix, TV and Film, True Crime
Emily Brown