Semperis Announces Midnight in the War Room: A Groundbreaking Cyberwar Documentary Featuring the World's Leading Defenders and Reformed Hackers

The first-of-its-kind feature film delves into the high-stakes conflict between cyber
attackers and defenders, revealing untold stories of CISOs—their heroism, resilience,
and the human cost of cyber war.

HOBOKEN, N.J., Oct. 16, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Semperis, a leading provider of AI-powered identity security and cyber resilience, today released the official trailer for Midnight in the War Room, a groundbreaking new documentary. The film features top voices in cybersecurity and national security, including Chris Inglis, the first U.S. National Cyber Director; General (Ret.) David Petraeus, former Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) Director; Jen Easterly, former Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) Director; Marcus Hutchins, WannaCry hero; and Professor Mary Aiken, world-renowned cyber psychologist—along with dozens of global security experts, cyber journalists, and reformed hackers.

The feature-length film explores the escalating cyber conflict between nation states, criminal groups, and the defenders on the front lines of cyber war: the Chief Information Security Officers (CISOs) safeguarding the world's critical systems. More than 50 experts weigh in, including voices from the other side—former hackers, some who served time—offering rare insight into the attacker's mindset. The stories reveal the human side of cyber war: courage, burnout, and the relentless fight to keep the lights on. The film pulls back the curtain on a war with no borders and no rules, where trust becomes a target and complacency becomes a weapon.

"The greatest threat we face isn't just the sophistication of nation-state cyberattacks, it's complacency," says Inglis. "Resilience is forged when we refuse to accept today's defenses as enough and prepare for the battles still to come. That's why I'm thrilled to be part of this film, a story that will ignite awareness, rally defenders and inspire us all to stand together in the fight."

Semperis is the first cybersecurity company to produce a full-length feature film on cyber war, spotlighting the defenders who safeguard the infrastructure society depends on: water and power systems, food supply chains, healthcare networks, and financial institutions targeted by nation states and ransomware gangs.

"Midnight in the War Room is a truly special project for us, unlike anything our industry has seen," says Thomas LeDuc, Chief Marketing Officer at Semperis and Executive Producer of the film. "We are humbled by the caliber of experts taking part—from former intelligence leaders to frontline CISOs, journalists, victims, and even reformed hackers—all coming together to tell this story. It offers a rare, human look at cyber defense … the courage, pressure, and resolve of the people who protect what keeps the world running."

The documentary features a powerhouse cast of prominent figures in cybersecurity and national security, offering a comprehensive look at top-of-mind challenges and potential solutions in the face of escalating cyber war.

 The film includes appearances by:

• Professor Mary Aiken, world-renowned cyber psychologist
• Heath Adams, cybersecurity industry educator and influencer
• Marene Allison, former CISO, Johnson & Johnson
• Krista Arndt, author, CISO, and Board Member, Women in CyberSecurity (WiCyS) Delaware Valley Affiliate
• Grace Cassy, Co-founder, CyLon, former Diplomat, Foreign and Commonwealth Office
• Heather M. Costa, Director of Technology Resilience, Mayo Clinic
• Anne Coulombe, former CISO, MassMutual
• Jen Easterly, former CISA Director
• Ori Fragman, former CISO, Hapag-Lloyd
• John Hammond, cybersecurity industry educator and influencer
• Simon Hodgkinson, former CISO, bp
• Marcus Hutchins (MalwareTech), cybersecurity researcher known for stopping WannaCry
• Chris Inglis, first U.S. National Cyber Director
• Philip Keibler, Vice President and CISO, large midwestern supermarket chain
• Jesse McGraw (Ghost Exodus), former hacktivist turned white hat
• General (Ret.) David Petraeus, former CIA Director
• David Schwed, CISO, Robinhood
• Richard Stiennon, Founder, IT-Harvest
• Joe Tidy, Cyber Correspondent, BBC
• Dozens more expert interviews to be announced in the coming weeks, sharing first-hand accounts of real-world cyberattacks and the fight to defend against them

"Defeating the malicious cyberattacks that threaten our way of life will take more than technology designed to be secure, it will take the creativity and curiosity of the human mind," says Easterly. "Those qualities empower defenders to outthink and outmaneuver adversaries, and it's an honor to be part of Midnight in the War Room to advance that mission."

Midnight in the War Room  was produced by Semperis Media and filmed across North America and Europe. Semperis is partnering with leading cybersecurity and professional organizations—including the CyberRisk Alliance (CRA), the Cyber Future Foundation (CFF), the Institute for Critical Infrastructure Technology (ICIT), (ISC)² Eastern Massachusetts Chapter, the Michigan Council of Women in Technology, and the WiCyS Delaware Valley Affiliate, among many others—to co-host private showings, raise community awareness, and champion cyber resilience. For information on becoming an action partner, contact [email protected].

Watch the trailer for Midnight in the War Room and learn more at: https://semperis.com/midnight-in-the-war-room

Follow the documentary project on social:

• Instagram
• LinkedIn
• Facebook
• YouTube

About Semperis
Semperis protects critical enterprise identity services for security teams charged with defending hybrid and multi-cloud environments. Purpose-built for securing hybrid identity environments—including Active Directory, Entra ID, and Okta—Semperis' AI-powered technology protects over 100 million identities from cyberattacks, data breaches, and operational errors.

As part of its mission to be a force for good, Semperis offers a variety of cyber community resources, including the award-winning Hybrid Identity Protection (HIP) Conference, HIP Podcast, and free identity security tools Purple Knight and Forest Druid. Semperis is a privately owned, international company headquartered in Hoboken, New Jersey, supporting the world's biggest brands and government agencies, with customers in more than 40 countries. 

Learn more: https://www.semperis.com
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Media Contact:
Bill Keeler
Senior Director, PR & Comms
Semperis
[email protected]

SOURCE Semperis