Ava DuVernay’s ‘Central Park Five’ Finishes Casting Its Central Park Five

Netflix limited series adds Chris Chalk, Freddy Miyares, Ethan Herisse and more

Central Park Five Cast
Getty Images/Netflix

Ava DuVernay’s “Central Park Five” has rounded out its cast with the final members of the Netflix limited series’ titular lineup.

The streamer announced Friday it has added Chris Chalk (“Gotham”) as Adult Yusef Salaam and newcomers Freddy Miyares and Justin Cunningham as Adult Raymond Santana and Adult Kevin Richardson, respectively. Those three join the previously announced Jharrel Jerome and Jovan Adepo (Adult Antron McCray) as the adult versions of the “Central Park Five.”

Meanwhile, Ethan Herisse (“Miss Virginia”) will play Young Yusef Salaam, Marquis Rodriguez (“Chicago Fire”) will play Young Raymond Santana, Jr., Caleel Harris (“Goosebumps 2”) will play Young Antron McCray and Asante Blackk will play Young Kevin Richardson. Those four, along with Jerome (who is playing the young and adult versions of Korey Wise), will portray the teenagers wrongfully accused in 1989.

Based on a true story that gripped the country, the limited series will chronicle the case of five teenagers of color who were convicted of a rape they did not commit. The four episode limited series will focus on the five teenagers from Harlem — Antron McCray, Kevin Richardson, Yusef Salaam, Raymond Santana and Korey Wise. The series will span from the spring of 1989, when each were first questioned about the incident, to 2014 when they were exonerated and a settlement was reached with the city of New York.

Previously announced cast members include Jerome, Adepo, Michael K. Williams, Vera Farmiga, John Leguizamo, Felicity Huffman, Niecy Nash, Aunjanue Ellis, Kylie Bunbury, Marsha Stephanie Blake and Storm Reid.

DuVernay will write and direct the four-episode drama. Jeff Skoll and Jonathan King from Participant Media, Oprah Winfrey from Harpo Films, Jane Rosenthal and Berry Welsh from Tribeca Productions will executive produce the limited series alongside DuVernay under her Forward Movement banner.

“Central Park Five” began filming this week in New York City. The limited series will be released on Netflix in 2019.

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