We can always count on our girl Ava DuVernay to help us stay woke and bring real issues happening in our communities to the big and small screen. She’s best known for projects like #Selma, #QueenSugar and her Oscar-nominated Netflix documentary #13th… and now we have something new to look forward to!
Variety reports that DuVernay is continuing her relationship with Netflix and creating a five-part scripted series about the #CentralParkFive case.
“I had an extraordinary experience working with Netflix on ’13th’ and am overjoyed to continue this exploration of the criminal justice system as a narrative project with Cindy Holland and the team there,” the filmmaker said. “The story of the men known as Central Park Five has riveted me for more than two decades. In their journey, we witness five innocent young men of color who were met with injustice at every turn — from coerced confessions to unjust incarceration to public calls for their execution by the man who would go on to be the President of the United States.”
Harpo Films is behind the project along with Participant Media and Tribeca Productions. This is the latest collaboration for Oprah Winfrey and DuVernay, who also worked together on “Selma” and OWN’s “Queen Sugar.”
“This is one of the most talked-about cases of our time and Ava’s passionate vision and masterful direction will bring the human stories behind the headlines to life in this series,” said Cindy Holland, Netflix’s VP of original content.
As we reported earlier, three of the Central Park Five — Kevin Richardson, Yusef Salaam and Raymond Santana Jr — received honorary high school diplomas from Bronx Preparatory High last month. The group of black and latino teenagers were wrongfully convicted of the brutal rape and assault of a white female jogger in New York City’s Central Park in 1989 and were incarcerated during their actual high school years.
Roommates, do you plan to tune in?!
TSR STAFF: Myeisha E.! @myeisha.essex on IG
