Yahoo News Disney+ announces Jean Charles De Menezes drama series
He was shot by police after the 2005 London bombings
Disney+ has announced it will be making a new limited series around the tragic killing of Jean Charles de Menezes, an innocent man mistakenly believed to be a suspect in the London bombings in 2005.
The show is titled Suspect: The Shooting of Jean Charles de Menezes and it will focus on the manhunt for the terrorist group involved in the attacks that led to his tragic death.
Read more: Jean Charles de Menezes’ family say ‘Cressida Dick should have quit 16 years ago’ (The Independent, 3-min read)
Jeff Pope, the scriptwriter for Philomena, Stan and Ollie and more, is onboard the production, with BAFTA award-winning Paul Andrew Williams helming the project.
What happened to Jean Charles de Menezes?
The tragic killing of de Menezes took place on 22 July, 2005 shortly after the terror attacks in London on 7 July, which saw four suicide bomb attacks targeting rush hour commuters.
It was a coordinated attack by Islamic extremists that targeted commuters using the London transport system, with bombs going off on two Circle Line trains and one Piccadilly line train. A fourth bomb was detonated on a bus travelling between Marble Arch and Hackney Wick.
Read more: Jean Charles de Menezes: 'We will never get justice' (Sky News, 3-min read)
On 21 July, there were four attempted bombings in Shepherd's Bush, Warren Street and Oval tube stations, and on a bus travelling through Bethnal Green.
Brazilian national de Menezes was incorrectly identified by the London Metropolitan police as one of the four suspects of the 21 July attacks, and he was shot and killed at Stockwell tube station.
Are Jean Charles de Menezes' family involved in the Disney+ series?
In its announcement, Disney+ confirmed that his parents and other relatives will serve as consultants for the series when it goes into production later this year.
Liam Keelan, SVP Original Content, Europe and Africa, Disney said in a statement: “This is a crucial drama series for us, reflecting our ambition to tell stories with real authenticity and which really matter to our audiences.
"This is a subject Jeff Pope and Kwadjo Dajan are incredibly passionate about and have been wanting to explore for some time. It’s a privilege for us to collaborate with them on this important true story.”
Pope added: “After the July 7th bombings the capital was in a state of terror, and fear of another imminent wave of deadly attacks ultimately led to the tragic death of Jean Charles de Menezes.
"This series is not just about how and why he died, but also about what followed, as it became painfully apparent that an innocent man had become another victim of these horrific events.”
Kwadjo Dajan, who will be executive producer for the series, added: “The more we delve into this story, the more compelled we feel to tell it. We’re aware of the huge responsibility that comes with tackling this particular subject, and it’s not something we take lightly.
"Built on a foundation of meticulous research, integrity and respect, Jeff’s masterful writing and Paul’s visceral approach will deliver a powerful, as well as sobering, series that will leave a lasting impact on our audience.”
