The four-part series, which has been in production since 2015, will re-examine the events leading up to Hae Min Lee’s disappearance. The story will chart the pair’s relationship, from high school sweethearts, faced with cultural clashes, to a forbidden romance and the mysterious circumstances surrounding Lee’s death. It will also examine the aftermath of Lee’s disappearance, issues with the initial investigation and have unprecedented access to Syed in the present day, as he awaits a retrial, having already spent 18 years in prison on a life sentence.

The series will also feature interviews with Syed’s family, defence team and friends as well as teachers of Hae Min Lee and members of the Baltimore City police force. The series tracks how a rush to justice and a conviction left more questions than answers in the case. It also builds on elements that were introduced in the podcast, such as and the unreliable nature of key cell phone data evidence, which ultimately led to Syed’s initial conviction. Fans of the series will be happy to see that a long-awaited alibi witness will take the stand, which could change everything.

Produced by Working Title TV and Instinct Productions, the series was commissioned by HBO Documentary Films and Sky Atlantic. It will be distributed internationally by NBC Universal International and will feature original music by Nick Cave and Warren Ellis.