Newark to get documentary treatment on Sundance

The Sundance Channel will air a new documentary series, focused on the challenges facing New Jersey’s largest city, Newark, according to The Hollywood Reporter. Oscar-winner Forest Whitaker, along with Marc Levin and Mark Benjamin will produce the new series.

Called Brick City, the series will center on Newark Mayor Cory Booker, the city’s residents and key figures from real estate developers to former gang members, that are attempting to remake the city through improvements in housing, employment and education, as well as putting a halt on the increasing violence plaguing the municipality.

Brick City will debut with six half-hour episodes in the latter part of 2009, and will take place over the span of about a year so viewers can see whether things in Newark change.

It hasn’t been determined whether Whitaker, who apparently is a huge supporter of the project and the city, will provide the voiceover narration.