XIII: The Conspiracy

Prodigy Pictures

Industry	Film and television production
Products	Television movies, series

XIII: The Conspiracy is a two-part television movie from 2008, adapted from the Belgian graphic novel series XIII created by Jean Van Hamme and William Vance. The story follows an amnesiac protagonist on a quest to uncover his concealed past. This film acted as a pilot episode for the 2011 television show XIII: The Series.

Under the direction of Duane Clark, the production featured performances by Val Kilmer and Stephen Dorff. Produced by Prodigy Pictures alongside Cipango Films, it debuted on France’s Canal+ in October 2008. Subsequent broadcasts included NBC in the United States (February 2009), Australia’s Nine (November 2009, retitled The Conspiracy), and the UK’s Five (December 2009), where it was presented as a single feature.

Plot

Following the assassination of Sally Sheridan (Mimi Kuzyk), the first female president of the United States, a mysterious figure known as La Mangouste (Val Kilmer) manages to flee. Three months later, a man suffering from amnesia (Stephen Dorff) is discovered in West Virginia, with a tattoo marked "XIII" on his chest.

A combined intelligence task force led by Colonel Amos (Greg Bryk) pursues the assassin while XIII uses the internet to piece together his identity. After a lethal assault on those protecting him, XIII escapes to New York City and forms an alliance with Sam (Caterina Murino), who assists him in identifying Kim (Jessalyn Gilsig), a woman linked to his forgotten history.

XIII is captured by renegade Secret Service agents and subjected to interrogation by La Mangouste, during which he learns that "XIII" refers to a conspiracy involving clandestine organizations. With help from Kim, her father General Carrington (Stephen McHattie), and CIA operative Jones, he uncovers that he was once a special operations agent who underwent facial reconstruction for an undercover assignment aimed at thwarting fascists planning a governmental coup.

During another capture attempt, La Mangouste kills Kim. XIII survives multiple attacks from members of the conspiracy, including an operative known as "XIV," while evading pursuit sanctioned by White House Chief of Staff Calvin Wax (Jonathan Higgins).

General Carrington reveals XIII’s real identity as Ross Tanner, whose family perished in sarin gas attacks orchestrated by Colonel Jack McCall (Scott Wickware)’s paramilitary group. A significant attack is plotted to coincide with the forthcoming election.

At a facility in Montana, XIII confronts McCall, who takes his own life before divulging further information. Evidence surfaces indicating a nuclear strike planned for election day in Maryland. Following a confrontation with Colonel Amos, Carrington is arrested on suspicion of treason.

Investigation links Jasper Winthrow, CEO of Standard Electronics and owner of military contractor Stratus Dynamics, to the conspiracy. XIII tracks La Mangouste to Petersburg, Virginia, eliminates him, and prevents the bomb’s delivery in Bethesda, Maryland.

Wally Sheridan, brother of the slain president, wins the presidential election. After Calvin Wax commits suicide and Carrington is released, Sheridan publicly reveals the conspiracy.

While in Japan, XIII and Jones uncover that Ross Tanner’s family never existed; instead, Wally Sheridan orchestrated the attacks to seize power and establish authoritarian rule. Realizing they have been deceived, XIII affirms their mission remains unfinished: "We're going back."

The XX

Number	Name	Role
I	Wally Sheridan	President-elect
II	Calvin Wax	Chief of Staff
III	Ellery Shipley	Secretary of Defense
IV	Jasper Winthrow	CEO, Standard Electronic
V	???	???
VI	???	???
VII	???	???
VIII	???	???
IX	???	???
X	???	???
XI	Jack McCall	Colonel
XII	Mongoose	Assassin
XIII	Steve Rowland	Former Special Assault and Destruction operative
XIV	Agent Kohn	Homeland Security Prison Interrogator
XV	Unnamed Man	Tunnel Bomber
XVI	???	???
XVII	Kim Rowland	Widow of Steve Rowland
XVIII	???	???
XIX	Unnamed Man	Department of Energy Armored Car Driver
XX	Unnamed Woman	U.S. Customs Officer

Broadcasters

Country	Network	Air Dates
Template:Country data FRATemplate:Namespace detect showall France	Canal +	October 6–13, 2008
United States	NBC	February 8–15, 2009
Template:Country data AUSTemplate:Namespace detect showall Australia	Nine Network	November 1–8, 2009
Template:Country data GBRTemplate:Namespace detect showall United Kingdom	Five	December 27, 2009
Template:Country data AUTTemplate:Namespace detect showall Austria	ATV	January 15, 2010
Template:Country data ESPTemplate:Namespace detect showall Spain	Antena 3	April 1, 2010
Germany	13th Street	April 16–18, 2010
Template:Country data RSATemplate:Namespace detect showall South Africa	SABC 3	August 29 – September 5, 2010
Canada	Showcase	2010
Template:Country data BULTemplate:Namespace detect showall Bulgaria	AXN (subtitled) bTV (dubbed)	April 4–5, 2010 April 16–17, 2011
Template:Country data NEDTemplate:Namespace detect showall Netherlands	BNN RTL 7	June 9–10, 2011 July 8, 2014
Template:Country data BELTemplate:Namespace detect showall Belgium	VT4	December 22–29, 2011
Template:Country data THATemplate:Namespace detect showall Thailand	Channel 7	January 11–12, 2012
Template:Country data PRCTemplate:Namespace detect showall China	HBO Asia	February 2012
Template:Country data INDTemplate:Namespace detect showall India	HBO India
Template:Country data HUNTemplate:Namespace detect showall Hungary	RTL Klub	February 2, 2012
Template:Country data IDNTemplate:Namespace detect showall Indonesia	Template:YouTube channel	2015

Critical reception

On Metacritic, the miniseries has a weighted average score of 44 out of 100 based on six reviews, indicating generally "mixed or average" feedback. Its highest praise came from The Hollywood Reporter, which called it "not a half-bad political thriller." In contrast, USA Today criticized the miniseries for weak casting choices and unclear staging, particularly noting Val Kilmer's lackluster performance.