Filmmaker Ava DuVernay is really putting together an incredible cast for her Netflix limited series “Central Park 5.” The streaming service just announced that Michael K. Williams, Vera Farmiga, and John Leguizamo have all signed to star in the highly-anticipated series from the streaming service.
“Central Park 5” follows the story of five Harlem teens who were wrongly convicted of the brutal rape of a jogger in New York City. The story will follow the teens from their conviction all the way until their eventual release in 2014 after their names were cleared and the ruling was overturned. The story also ties into today’s politics, not just from the perceived racism that landed the boys in prison, but also because of Donald Trump’s involvement in the case, where he took out a full-page ad in the Daily News to call for the boys to be executed. Then of course, after their 2014 settlement, Trump once again accused the five of still being guilty.
Michael K. Williams is probably best known for his role on “The Wire,” but has also been seen in shows like “Boardwalk Empire” and most recently in “Hap and Leonard.” Farmiga, of course, has been a mainstay in the ‘Conjuring’ franchise, as well as the acclaimed series “Bates Motel.” Leguizamo has been recently seen in the Netflix series “Bloodline.”
As mentioned above, all episodes of the limited series will be directed by DuVernay, who is coming off “A Wrinkle in Time.” She’s also said to be attached to the DC superhero film “New Gods.” She co-wrote “Central Park 5” with Robin Swicord, Attica Locke, and Michael Starberry. Her longtime cinematographer Bradford Young is also aboard the project, coming off his recent film “Solo: A Star Wars Story.”
There’s no release date yet for “Central Park 5,” but production on the Netflix series is said to begin in August.