Jay Z to Produce Trayvon Martin Film & Docu-Series

FameflyNet Pictures

Jay Z has been dipping his toes into film production recently, after teaming up with Harvey Weinstein to produce the film version of In the Heights as well as a documentary about Kalief Browder. 

Now, the rapper and entrepreneur is partnering with Harvey again to produce a series of film and TV projects about Trayvon Martin, a 2012 case that spearheaded today’s social justice movement #BlackLivesMatter.

Jay Z won a bidding war for the rights to two books: Suspicion Nation: The Inside Story of the Trayvon Martin Injustice and Why We Continue to Repeat It and Rest in Power: The Enduring Life of Trayvon Martin.

Suspicion by Lisa Bloom recounts her experiences covering the trial for NBC, while Rest in Power is by Trayvon’s parents and tells the story from a very personal point of view. As we all know, Trayvon was killed by 28-year old George Zimmerman, who was a member of the neighborhood watch in his Florida community. He claimed he shot Trayvon, who was unarmed, in self defense.

According to Variety, the plan is to make a six-part docs-series as part of a first-look deal he signed with the Weinstein Company. They also want to develop a narrative feature film.