Spike Lee and HBO team for NYC documentary covering 9/11 to COVID-19

Last Updated on August 5, 2021

Acclaimed director Spike Lee and HBO Documentary Films are in the midst of prepping a multi-part documentary titled NYC Epicenters 9/11-2021½. Described as “an epic chronicle of life, loss, and survival in the city of New York over the twenty years since the September 11th attacks,” the series will focus on the ways New Yorkers have persevered since the 9/11 terrorist attacks.

While painting an “unprecedented, sweeping portrait of New Yorkers as they rebuild and rebound, from a devastating terrorist attack through the ongoing global pandemic,” the doc includes “a staggering amount of visual imagery” including first-hand accounts from residents of the Big Apple.

Lee released the following statement about the documentary event, which will debut later this year on HBO and HBO Max to commemorate the September 11 attacks:

As a New Yawker who bleeds orange and blue (the colors of New York City), I’m proud to have a ‘Spike Lee Joint’ about how our/my city dealt with being the epicenters of 9/11 and COVID-19. With over 200 interviews, we dig deep into what makes NYC the greatest city on this God’s earth and also the diverse citizens who make it so. Over centuries pundits and straight haters have proclaimed NYC was dead and stinkin’, only to be proved wrong. You will lose ya money betting against New York, New York. And dat’s da truth, Ruth. Be Safe. Peace And Love – Spike Lee, Da People’s Republic Of Brooklyn

“We’re thrilled to have another groundbreaking HBO documentary event from Spike Lee,” said Lisa Heller and Nancy Abraham, co-heads of HBO Documentary Films. “From documenting the devastation of Hurricane Katrina in New Orleans to the 9/11 attack on New York City and beyond, we treasure Spike’s singular capacity to chronicle and pay tribute to the human toll of these historic events while bearing profound witness to the strength and resiliency of the human spirit.”

Having lived in New York for 36 years before moving to Canada, this documentary hits real close to home. When I think about Lee's body of work, and the care he lends to every one of his film projects, I've no doubt that he'll do New York justice with this documentary. As difficult as the subject matter is, I'm looking forward to this one.