Spike Lee’s upcoming documentary series on the 9/11 attacks and the resilience of his adopted hometown of New York City premieres this weekend on HBO.
The first episode of the project titled NYC Epicenters 9/11->2021½ will air on Sunday, Aug. 22, HBO’s parent company WarnerMedia said Friday in a press release.
As the series marks the 20th anniversary of the attacks, it will chronicle the last two decades in New York — from the early days of the ongoing coronavirus pandemic and its effect on the hard-hit Brooklyn borough to the 9/11 attacks.
The next episodes will document the Black Lives Matter movement and culminate with the finale episode focused on Sept. 11, 2001.
Lee will detail accounts from first responders, eyewitnesses, survivors, and family members of 9/11 victims on how the day and its aftermath unfolded in the city.
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The docuseries is described by WarnerMedia as “emotionally weighted and provocative, the series bears profound witness to the lasting and complicated impact of these historical moments and ultimately stands as a towering homage to New York City and its residents.”
The over 200 interviews Lee conducted for the four-part docuseries include conversations with celebrities and politicians such as Jon Stewart, Rosie Perez, Jeffrey Wright, John Turturro; politicians Chuck Schumer, Bill De Blasio, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Ron Kim, Mondaire Jones, Stacey Plaskett, Ritchie Torres, and Muriel Bowser.
Dr. Anthony Fauci also makes an appearance in NYC Epicenters 9/11->2021 ½.
Weaved within the footage of the city and interviews will be classic film footage as well as clips from Lee’s own movies Do the Right Thing and Inside Man.
NYC Epicenters 9/11->2021½ debuts Sunday, Aug. 22 from 8-10 p.m. ET/PT, with the following two episodes airing on subsequent Sundays leading up to the finale on Sept. 11 at 10 p.m. ET/PT. The series will debut on HBO and be available to stream on HBO Max.
