The Jay Z-produced Trayvon Martin docu-series from The Weinstein Company will air on Paramount Network in 2018, the network announced Thursday.
The six-part series, “Rest in Power: The Trayvon Martin Story,” will debut in 2018 after the Spike rebrand as Paramount Network launches in January. Spike previously aired the docu-series “TIME: The Kalief Browder Story,” which was also executive produced by TWC and Jay Z.
“Rest in Power” will tell the story of the 17-year old high school student shot and killed by a neighborhood watch member George Zimmerman.
The series will be based on the books “Suspicion Nation: The Inside Story of the Trayvon Martin Injustice and Why We Continue to Repeat It” by Lisa Bloom and “Rest in Power: The Enduring Life of Trayvon Martin” by Martin’s parents, Sybrina Fulton and Tracy Martin.
The project was announced last month alongside a feature film project about Martin, which will also be produced by Jay Z and TWC. The hip-hop veteran and multiplatinum recording artist, whose given name is Shawn Carter, signed a two-year first-look deal with TWC in September.
“I am thrilled to once again partner with the incredibly talented team of The Weinstein Company and Shawn Carter to take a comprehensive look beyond the headlines at the circumstances that caused Trayvon’s senseless death and the movement born out of this tragedy,” said Kevin Kay, President, Spike TV (soon to be Paramount Network), TV Land, and CMT.
“This is an important American story. We’re honored that Trayvon’s family has entrusted us to share the truth with the world,” said Carter. “Thank you, again, to Paramount Network/Spike TV for being brave enough to partner with us and tell these complex narratives. It’s through these conversations that we can begin to heal.”
“We are humbled and excited to embark upon this new beginning with Shawn Carter, Harvey, and Paramount. We know this means a lot to this country. We continue to tell our story in order to unite people. We are very hopeful that this project will bring about a healthy and helpful conversation on the injustices that have divided society. That is also why we started the Trayvon Martin Foundation. We know as parents, that the third act of our son’s legacy is hope.” said Fulton and Martin.
Executive producers for the series will include Shawn Carter, Harvey Weinstein, David C. Glasser, Chachi Senior, Sybrina Fulton, Tracy Martin, Jenner Furst, Nick Sandow, Julia Willoughby Nason, and Michael Gasparro.