Netflix is preparing to premiere an unscripted series that reimagines the famous Stanford Prison Experiment for modern audiences. Titled “The New Stanford Prison Experiment,” the program will launch on October 21 and feature six episodes, each running approximately 45 minutes in length.
The series places thirty volunteers into a functioning prison environment where they are randomly assigned roles as either guards or prisoners. Participants will navigate systems of authority, power dynamics, and control to explore whether ordinary individuals naturally conform to assigned positions or if values like empathy and morality can resist institutional pressures. The central focus examines whether power inherently corrupts those who hold it.
Alfred Street Industries produces the series, with Jane Lipsitz serving as an executive producer alongside several collaborators. Lipsitz expressed enthusiasm for the project, noting that despite the ethical limitations of the original 1971 Stanford experiment conducted by Professor Philip Zimbardo, the underlying questions remain deeply relevant to contemporary society. The original study was terminated after six days when guards began mistreating prisoners, ultimately contributing to stronger safeguards for human research participants.
This project joins a growing collection of adaptations examining the landmark experiment, including the 2015 feature film starring Billy Crudup as Zimbardo. Netflix has positioned itself as a supporter of challenging content that explores complex social issues through innovative formats.
Originally reported by Variety →
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