Four years after the podcast Serial took over the internet, HBO has announced that it will be releasing a documentary based on the case.
The series will explore the 1999 disappearance and murder of 18-year-old Baltimore County high school student Hae Min Lee and the subsequent conviction of her ex-boyfriend, Adnan Syed.
The series which has been in production since 2015, will re-examine the events leading up to Hae Min Lee’s disappearance, the original police investigation, and the present day when Syed awaits a new trial.
Reports claim that The Case Against Adnan Syed will run to four hours.
Jemima Khan took to Twitter to make the announcement.
Two years in the making and we are excited to announce that our company Instinct Productions & Working Title are bringing Adnan Syed’s story (the subject of the global podcast phenomenon SERIAL) to the screen. Directed by the brilliant Amy Berg @disarmingfilms https://t.co/AoVzCF1lU3
— Jemima Goldsmith (@Jemima_Khan) May 16, 2018
The series will explore issues of cultural conflict and features “exclusive access” to Adnan, the defence team, and to both Adnan’s and Lee’s former teachers.
Lee’s body was found buried in a shallow grave in Leakin Park on February 10, 1999, about a month after she was last seen driving away from school.
“The series traces how the rush to justice and Syed’s conviction in 2000 raised more questions than answers about what happened to Hae Min Lee, underscoring the instability of memory and conflicting eyewitnesses,” the HBO release said.
However, it is not known as yet when the series will be broadcast.
The series will be directed by Deliver Us From Evil, which investigated sexual abuse within the Catholic Church, and West of Memphis director Amy Berg and will explore the case that prompted the podcast phenomenon.
Jemima also announced that her company is also “developing a period drama with master story-teller, Academy Award winner Julian Fellowes.”
Also this:
We are very excited to be developing a period drama with master story-teller, Academy Award winner Julian Fellowes.
Other projects to be announced shortly. It’s all go at Instinct Productions @InstinctLtd @henconrad https://t.co/qSQFL01wJN— Jemima Goldsmith (@Jemima_Khan) May 16, 2018