Inside Netflix's 'The New Stanford Prison Experiment' Reality Show

Netflix is reviving one of history's most infamous social experiments as a reality series, per Variety. "The New Stanford Prison Experiment" premieres October 21.

The original 1971 study, run by Stanford professor Philip Zimbardo, had college students role-play as prisoners and guards in a mock prison. It descended into cruelty and mental distress, ending after six days and becoming a landmark ethical failure.

This new version, executive produced by Jane Lipsitz and Dan Cutforth, aims to be a "cultural corrective." It asks if the experiment can yield insights into power and human behavior if done correctly, with proper safeguards.

Lipsitz told Variety the team was "nervous to take on something that has already failed." The series features a more diverse group of participants, including women, unlike the original all-male study.

Major changes were implemented for safety. Participants underwent psychological testing, gave informed consent, and had a safe word ("pineapple") to exit. Medics and psychologists were on call 24/7, and off-duty guards were present in case of trouble. The crew was kept out of the experimental pod, with everything filmed on Robocams to avoid influencing behavior.