Spike Lee and HBO have unveiled the official trailer of their upcoming documentary, NYC EPICENTERS 9/11➔2021½.
Produced and directed by the revered filmmaker, the four-part docuseries is a “tribute to the city that shaped [Lee] and inspired some of his greatest work.” The 2021 Cannes jury president conducted more than 200 interviews for first-hand accounts of “New York’s greatest challenges”:
“The quintessential New York filmmaker uses his unique sensibilities to craft a multi-faceted mosaic of the city as it deals with some of the most life-changing events of the last twenty years. Beginning with the ongoing global pandemic and the urgency of the Black Lives Matter movement, Lee traverses through time to the devastating terrorist attacks of 9/11. This provocative series is an epic chronicle of life, loss and survival in what Lee calls “the greatest city on this God’s earth.” NYC EPICENTERS 9/11➔2021½ captures the flavor and heart of New York City, exploring its resilience and grit and affirming its innate ability to rebound, rebuild and endure.”
Lee also explores the COVID-19 crisis as a longtime citizen of Brooklyn, which was hit particularly hard by the pandemic. The documentary series opens with the filmmaker speaking with doctors, medical professionals, first responders and family members of victims of the pandemic. “Not simply dwelling on the devastating toll of the disease and the trauma left in its wake, Lee reveals stories of solidarity as New Yorkers come together to support the doctors and nurses in the trenches,” a press release read.
Watch the full trailer above. NYC EPICENTERS 9/11➔2021½ premieres August 22 on HBO and HBO Max, with each episode airing each Sunday until the finale on September 11.
Elsewhere in entertainment, Scarlett Johansson has joined Wes Anderson’s next film.
