Netflix has announced that Ava DuVernay is set to write and direct a five-episode series telling the story of The Central Park Five, five teenagers from Harlem who were wrongly convicted of brutally assaulting and raping a jogger in central Park in 1989. Each episode will focus on one of the five teenagers, and will tell the story from their initial questioning by police through to their exoneration in 2014.
“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,” said DuVernay. “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.”
“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,” added Cindy Holland, Vice President, Original Content for Netflix. “After powerfully reframing the public conversation about criminality and injustice in 13th, Ava now turns a new lens to a case that exposes deep flaws in our criminal justice system.”
DuVernay’s next film is the Disney fantasy adventure A Wrinkle in Time, which is set for release in March 2018.
Originally published July 10, 2017. Updated April 15, 2018.
