Spike Lee to Direct Hurricane Katrina Documentary for Netflix
Netflix has shared an array of trailers, teasers, and release dates for their new projects. Among them is a three-part docuseries about the tragedy and aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, directed by the legendary Spike Lee.
Katrina: Come Hell and High Water will revisit the catastrophic tropical cyclone that devastated New Orleans in August 2005. The hurricane caused up to $125 billion in damages and resulted in 1,392 fatalities, leaving a lasting impact on the city and its residents.
The docuseries’ official logline reads, “Hurricane turned cataclysmic through human error and neglect. Over the course of a gripping and emotional three episodes, the people of New Orleans recount their past, extoll their present and lean into the future of what they and their beloved city survived and have become 20 years later…..”
The film, executive produced by Spike Lee, reflects on the brutal coastal hurricane as the New Orleans community recounts their past, celebrates their resilience, and envisions the future of their city two decades later.
The documentary promises new firsthand accounts from many of the hurricane’s surviving victims, along with never-before-seen archival footage. Residents will explore how past tragedies have shaped New Orleans nearly 20 years later.
Beyond personal testimonies, Lee’s documentary will examine how this devastating natural disaster escalated into a national tragedy due to systemic government neglect.
Failures in the construction of levees, artificial embankments meant to prevent flooding, led to the majority of casualties. These structural failures resulted in massive flooding, destroying homes, cutting off transportation and communication routes, and leaving many residents stranded with no way to escape or seek help.
New Orleans Mayor Ray Nagin, Louisiana Governor Kathleen Blanco, and President George W. Bush faced significant public criticism for their inadequate emergency response.
Academy Award-winning filmmaker Spike Lee will direct the three-part series alongside Greta Granbhir and Samantha Knowles, with Alisa Payne serving as showrunner and producer.
While Lee is best known for his narrative films, he has an impressive documentary portfolio. His previous works include: 4 Little Girls, Michael Jackson’s Journey from Motown to Off the Wall, The Captain, NYC Epicenters: 9/11 → 2021 ½, and several more.
Notably, this isn’t the director’s first time covering Hurricane Katrina. In 2006, he directed When the Levees Broke: A Requiem in Four Acts, a documentary that examined the suffering and grief of those affected while criticizing the governmental failures that exacerbated the disaster.
You can watch NYC Epicenters: 9/11 → 2021 ½ and Lee’s other documentaries on Max.
Katrina: Come Hell and High Water — executive produced by Spike Lee — looks back on the brutal coastal hurricane as the New Orleans community recounts their past, extoll their present and lean into the future of what they and their beloved city survived and have become 20 years… pic.twitter.com/v4PKEIFydb
— Strong Black Lead (@strongblacklead) January 30, 2025
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