Ava DuVernay Teaming With Netflix on Central Park Five Series
Five-episode project will focus on real-life case of five teens wrongly convicted of rape
Ryan Gajewski | July 6, 2017 @ 11:26 AM
Last Updated: April 18, 2018 @ 1:50 PM
Getty Images
Ava DuVernay is teaming with Netflix on a limited series about the Central Park Five.
Each installment of the narrative, five-episode series will focus on one of the five teenagers from Harlem — Antron McCray, Kevin Richardson, Yusef Salaam, Raymond Santana and Korey Wise — wrongly convicted of raping Trisha Meili in Central Park.
The as-yet untitled series spans from the spring of 1989, when they were first questioned about the incident, to their 2014 exoneration.
“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 “Selma” director added, “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.”
9 Women Who Have Directed Movies With $100 Million Budgets (Photos)
Only nine women directors, so far, have ever been given a budget north of $100 million. Even fewer have done so without also having a male co-director or on projects that aren't animated. That needs to change, and with "Captain Marvel" opening this weekend, hopefully that changes soon.
Getty Images
Kathryn Bigelow • "K:19 - The Widowmaker" (2002) - $100 Million
Before she became the first (and only) woman to win the Oscar for Best Director, Kathryn Bigelow was the first woman director to land a $100 million budget for her 2002 submarine thriller "K-19: The Widowmaker."
Getty Images
Jennifer Yuh Nelson • "Kung Fu Panda 2" (2011) - $150 Million
Jennifer Yuh Nelson directed the $150 million sequel to "Kung Fu Panda." She came back for the third film as well with a similar budget, but would then be paired with male director Alessandro Carloni.
Getty Images
Lana and Lilly Wachowski • "Cloud Atlas" (2012) -$128.5 Million and "Jupiter Ascending" (2016) - $176 Million
Lana Wachowski came out publicly as a transgender woman in 2012 while discussing the creative process behind "Cloud Atlas." She would then co-direct "Jupiter Ascending" in 2015, with Lilly also coming out as trans woman in 2016.
Getty Images
Jennifer Lee with Chris Buck • "Frozen" (2013) - $150 Million
Jennifer Lee's "Frozen" won two Oscars and was a pop cultural smash, and she'll direct the sequel as well along with Chris Buck.
Getty Images
Patty Jenkins • "Wonder Woman" (2017) - $149 Million
Patty Jenkins was only the third woman to direct a $100 million budgeted movie solo. "Wonder Woman" went on to make $412 million at the domestic box office. She's signed on to direct the sequel "Wonder Woman 1984" due out in 2020.
Getty Images
Ava DuVernay • "A Wrinkle in Time" (2018) - $103 Million
Disney's "A Wrinkle in Time" is an ambitious fantasy that should hopefully inspire a new generation of filmmakers and young kids. But the exotic, colorful family film only made $132 million at the worldwide box office.
Getty Images
Anna Boden with Ryan Fleck • "Captain Marvel" (2019)
Marvel's first female-fronted property enlisted Anna Boden along with Ryan Fleck, best known for their indie "Mississippi Grind." Its Thursday box office preview made it the fifth highest opening for any MCU film, putting it on pace for a huge first weekend.
Getty Images
Niki Caro • "Mulan" (2020)
Niki Caro's live action adaptation of the animated hit "Mulan" was supposed to come out later this year, but was recently pushed back to 2020.
Getty Images
1 of 9
Kathryn Bigelow, Patty Jenkins and Ava DuVernay are among the few
Only nine women directors, so far, have ever been given a budget north of $100 million. Even fewer have done so without also having a male co-director or on projects that aren't animated. That needs to change, and with "Captain Marvel" opening this weekend, hopefully that changes soon.
Getty Images
Getty Images
