Wood River Man Stars on New Netflix Show
Wood River’s Derrick Eldridge is appearing in a trending Netflix reality show that recreates the 1971 Stanford Prison Experiment. Learn what he says sets the 2026 version apart from the original.
WOOD RIVER - A Wood River resident stars in a new trending Netflix reality show.
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“The New Stanford Prison Experiment” premiered on Netflix on Wednesday, Oct. 21, 2026. This reality show recreates the infamous 1971 Stanford Prison Experiment. Derrick Eldridge, a Wood River resident and “true [Alton] Redbird for life,” stars in the new show as an inmate.
“I ended up in county jail in Georgia,” Eldridge said. “I think the most interesting thing for me was just the fact that I went to jail, Netflix aside. I never saw myself going to jail, so being there was just surreal. I was like, ‘Am I really here?’ And once that door shuts on you, night one, you’re in there and you’re like, ‘What the hell?’”
The original “controversial” Stanford Prison Experiment asked college students to pose as inmates or guards at a prison. The students quickly developed their own power hierarchy. The Netflix show recreates this experiment in 2026.
Eldridge noted that while the 1971 experiment was “brutal” in some ways, Netflix’s recreation was much safer. For example, he tore his hamstring during filming; Netflix “took care of [him],” for which he is “forever grateful.”
The experiment was supposed to last 14 days, but Eldridge gives no spoilers about whether the cast lasted the full two weeks. He encourages people to give the show a chance and see for themselves what happened.
He emphasized that this is a new take on the classic Stanford Prison Experiment. While it didn’t reach the same level of intensity as the original experiment, he said the experience still “gets realistic” for the inmates and guards in the prison setting.
“I just want people to go into it open-minded,” Eldridge said. “We know a lot about the 1971 experiment, but just think about how this is the 2026 experiment, and just give it a chance.”
Eldridge shared that he has always wanted to be on reality TV, and he has applied to a few shows in the past. He saw an Instagram post advertising “The New Stanford Prison Experiment” and seeking applications.
His application was accepted and he underwent several interviews before he was cast alongside 29 other non-actors from across the U.S. He hopes many local community members tune in to see a Riverbend native on their TV screens.
“Netflix is not something that I ever saw for myself,” Eldridge said. “I’m grateful. I’m happy. I truly want the communities to check it out. I want the people in the area to check it out.”
“The New Stanford Prison Experiment” premiered on Oct. 21 and is already trending and collecting impressive reviews. Eldridge urges community members to give it a try. He promises it’s worth the watch.
“Spoiler alert: I’m still alive and I’m okay,” he concluded. “I had a great experience. I like to live my life with no regrets, and this was one of those times that I truly left with no regrets.”
You can keep up with Eldridge on Instagram @itsderrickwash.
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