Netflix announce new Ava DuVernay documentary series on Central Park Five

The acclaimed filmmaker previously worked on 13TH with the streaming service

Ava DuVernay (Getty)

Having directed the astonishing Netflix documentary 13TH, which explored the role of race in the American justice system, Ava DuVernay will return to the streaming service.

Once again, the acclaimed filmmaker will tackle a hard-hitting subject: the Central Park Five, following five teenagers — Antron McCray, Kevin Richardson, Yusef Salaam, Raymond Santana and Korey Wise — who were wrongly accused ad imprisoned for raping a woman in Central Park in 1989.

“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,” DuVernay said in a statement.

“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 colour 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.”

Donald Trump infamously called for the death penalty to be brought back following the initial guilty verdict, spending an estimated $85,000 (£66,000) on paper advertisements to promote his message. While on the election path, Trump maintained his stance despite the give men being found innocent.

DuVernay’s series will run for five episodes, each following one of the different men and their journey from the 1989 incident to their 2014 exoneration. The series reaches Netflix in 2019.