Netflix Is Reviving the Notorious Stanford Prison Experiment for New Reality TV Show: Report

Silas Stein/AP

Netflix has revived the infamous Stanford Prison Experiment for a new reality TV show set to debut in October, Variety reported Tuesday.

The New Stanford Prison Experiment will premiere on Oct. 21. For the report, Variety also obtained a synopsis of the upcoming show, which read:

“Thirty willing participants enter a real prison and are randomly assigned as guards or prisoners. Thrust into a system of power, hierarchy, and control, they’ll discover whether ordinary people inevitably conform to the roles they’re given—or whether empathy, morality, and individuality can withstand the forces pushing them in the opposite direction. As the pressure builds and the balance of power begins to shift, the central question feels more urgent than ever: Does power corrupt?”

The original experiment took place in 1971 and was led by Stanford professor Philip Zimbardo. Twenty-four male college students were paid $15 per day for what was originally designed to be a two-week experiment. They were randomly assigned roles as prisoner and prison guards.

After just six days, however, Zimbardo ended the experiment due to the prison guards repeatedly abusing the prisoners. The study is viewed as a cautionary tale about the dangers of unethical social experiments.

In a statement obtained by Variety, executive producer Jane Lipsitz acknowledged the sordid history of the experiment but argued “it asked a fundamental question that feels even more relevant today.”

“Getting the opportunity to reimagine this social experiment was one of the most intense, exhilarating — and definitely nail-biting — experiences we’ve ever had,” Lipsitz continued. “Netflix has always been an incredible supporter of ambitious projects that take risks, push boundaries and tell challenging stories, so we were incredibly grateful to have them as our partners on this one.”

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