101 Studios Acquires NY Times Magazine Article On Death Of Muslim Marine Recruit

EXCLUSIVE: 101 Studios has acquired Janet Reitman’s 2017 New York Times Magazine article about the death of Marine Corps recruit Raheel Siddiqui that revealed a culture of brutality against Muslims at a South Carolina military training base. The article will be used as source material for a scripted limited series produced by 101 Studios.

Reitman’s article recounts the mysterious death of Siddiqui, which led to exposing a corrupt, brutal and torturous culture at Parris Island boot camp in South Carolina. In 2016, after days of continuous hazing and harassment, Siddiqui, a brand-new Marine Corps recruit, fell to his death at Parris Island in front of several of his fellow recruits. As investigations began into Siddiqui’s tragic death, a pattern of cyclical, systemic abuse emerged. The series will chronicle the traumatic moments leading up to Siddiqui’s fall while also uncovering the culture of abuse that has plagued the Parris Island boot camp.

“We feel privileged to have the opportunity to tell this story,” said David Glasser, CEO of 101 Studios. “Raheel’s death was tragic and his family’s loss is immeasurable, but his death has revealed he is not the only victim. We intend to further explore the brutal hazing and torture that has riddled Parris Island for decades and tell the stories of the other victims who have silently suffered.”

“Few stories I have written in the past several years seem as urgent as this one, given the culture of racism and Islamophobia within the military,” said Reitman.

101 Studios’ Glasser, David Hutkin and Bob Yari will serve as executive producers on the series.

Kelsey Pfleger and Leif Cervantes de Reinstein from Sheppard Mullin handled the deal on behalf of 101 Studios. Reitman’s deal was brokered by Luke Speed of Curtis Brown Group on behalf of Laurie Liss at Sterling Lord Literistic.