Made infamous when they werewrongfully prosecuted in the 1980s, the five men who inspiredNetflix‘s critically acclaimed miniseriesWhen They See Uswalked the Emmys red carpet on Sunday night — this time more like stars.
“They are all my date for the Emmys … I’m going to have them all out,” DuVernay, 47, said in August.
Her miniseries premiered in May to glowing reception and, according to Netflix, an audience of tens of millions. It received 16 Emmy nominations, including for outstanding limited series as well as for its writing, casting, cinematography and acting. Four of the actors playing the “Central Park Five” earned nods.
Frazer Harrison/Getty
“It is bittersweet, because watching this is painful, but it’s necessary,” Richardsontold Oprah Winfreyin an accompanying interview special earlier this year.
One of the most notorious criminal cases in New York City’s history began in April 1989, after a young investment banker went for a run in Central Park and was raped and brutally beaten.
RELATED VIDEO: Stars React to Their 2019 Emmy Nominations
Eventually the exonerated five, now all adults,won a settlement from N.Y.C. for about $40 million, per theTimes.
“Ava was always my choice to do this series,” SantanatoldThe New York Timesin May, pointing to what he called the boldness of her Martin Luther King Jr. biopic,Selma, including King’s flaws. “By showing that, it showed the human side of this man who was put on a pedestal. And it told me that she had no fear of telling the truth.”
In interviews with the actors who portrayed them as children and adults inWhen They See Us, Santana told theTimeshe was struck at the authenticity of the performances.
“We watch them, the way they interact with each other — we really sit there and go, ‘That’s us,’ ” Santana said. “And Antron, when I said it, he started to tear up. He’s like, ‘Come on, Ray, man!’ You see the brotherhood. We were like, ‘Wow, that’s us, the childhood that we lost is being displayed right in front of us.’ ”
As Richardson told Oprah: “I’m so happy and ecstatic that we can start the conversation now and make sure there will never be another ‘Central Park Five.’ ”
The 71st PrimetimeEmmy Awardsare airing live from the Microsoft Theater in Los Angeles starting at 8 p.m. ET/PT on Fox.
source: people.com
