John Leguizamo, a 2018 Special Tony Award recipient, has joined the cast of the four-part Netflix series Central Park Five, about the five Harlem teenagers who were falsely convicted of rape in 1989.
Leguizamo, Deadline reports, will play Raymond Santana Sr., father of Raymond Santana, who spent several years in jail with Antron McCray, Kevin Richardson, Yusef Salaam, and Korey Wise. The young men were finally cleared of the charges in 2014 and settled a lawsuit for more than $40 million in 2014.
Ava DuVernay created and directs the series, which is due in 2019. She co-wrote each episode with Robin Swicord, Attica Locke, and Michael Starrbury.
The cast will also feature Michael K. Williams as Antron's father Bobby and Vera Farmiga as Manhattan Assistant DA Elizabeth Lederer.
Pre-production has begun in Manhattan, and principal photography is expected to commence in August.
