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HISTORY® premieres "Roots" on Memorial Day 2016, airing over four consecutive nights at 9 p.m. beginning Monday, May 30, it was announced today by Paul Buccieri, President of A&E and HISTORY. The four-night, eight-hour event series developed by HISTORY, from A+E Studios, is a historical portrait of American slavery recounting the journey of one family and their will to survive and ultimately carry on their legacy despite hardship.
The stellar cast includes Academy Award® winners Forest Whitaker ("Fiddler") and Anna Paquin ("Nancy Holt") Academy Award® nominee and Emmy Award® winner Laurence Fishburne ("Alex Haley") Golden Globe Award® winning and Emmy Award® nominated actor Jonathan Rhys Meyers ("Tom Lea") Tony Award® winner Anika Noni Rose ("Kizzy") Grammy Award® winner Tip "T.I." Harris ("Cyrus") Chad L. Coleman ("Mingo") Emayatzy Corinealdi ("Belle") Matthew Goode ("Dr. William Waller") Derek Luke ("Silla Ba Dibba") Mekhi Phifer ("Jerusalem") James Purefoy ("John Waller") Erica Tazel ("Matilda") and introduces Regé-Jean Page ("Chicken George") and Malachi Kirby ("Kunta Kinte").
"'Roots' will allow new audiences to experience this epic family saga with a new vision that is both inspiring and tremendously entertaining," said Buccieri. "We are proud that HISTORY will be able to bring new life to this powerful story that remains as important today as it did when the original 'Roots' first premiered."
"Nearly 40 years ago I had the privilege to be a part of an epic television event that started an important conversation in America," said LeVar Burton, Co-Executive Producer. "I am incredibly proud to be a part of this new retelling and start the dialogue again, at a time when it is needed more than ever."
"Roots" is an A+E Studios production in association with Marc Toberoff and The Wolper Organization, the company that produced the original "Roots." Will Packer, Marc Toberoff, Mark Wolper, Lawrence Konner, Mark Rosenthal and Barry Jossen serve as executive producers. LeVar Burton and Korin D. Huggins are co-executive producers. Questlove is executive music producer. "Roots" is directed by Phillip Noyce, Mario Van Peebles, Thomas Carter and Bruce Beresford. Arturo Interian and Michael Stiller serve as Executives in Charge of Production for HISTORY. A+E Networks handles international distribution for "Roots."
Original Release
05/30/2016 on HIST
US Release
05/30/2016
Links
Cast
Name | Character |
---|
Jonathan Rhys Meyers | Tom Lea |
Malachi Kirby | Kunta Kinte |
Forest Whitaker | Fiddler |
Laurence Fishburne | Alex Haley |
Babs Olusanmokun | Omoro Kinte |
Kerry Sims | Slave |
Tevin Paul | Waller Slave / Memphis Battery Band / Freed Slave Soldier |
Matthew Goode | Dr. William Waller |
Emayatzy Corinealdi | Belle |
Shannon Lucio | Patricia Lea |
No episodes available for this season.
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Directors
Thomas Carter, Phillip Noyce, Bruce Beresford, Mario Van Peebles
Writers
Alex Haley, Lawrence Konner, Mark Rosenthal, Charles Murray, Alison McDonald
Cast
Name | Character |
---|
Jonathan Rhys Meyers | Tom Lea |
Malachi Kirby | Kunta Kinte |
Forest Whitaker | Fiddler |
Laurence Fishburne | Alex Haley |
Babs Olusanmokun | Omoro Kinte |
Kerry Sims | Slave |
Tevin Paul | Waller Slave / Memphis Battery Band / Freed Slave Soldier |
Matthew Goode | Dr. William Waller |
Emayatzy Corinealdi | Belle |
Shannon Lucio | Patricia Lea |
James Purefoy | John Waller |
Erica Tazel | Matilda |
Derek Luke | Silla Ba Dibba |
Katie McGuinness | Elizabeth Waller |
Anika Noni Rose | Kizzy |
Tony Curran | Connelly |
Adam Fergus | Sir Eric Russell |
Nokuthula Ledwaba | Binta Kinte |
Carol Sutton | Miss Malizy |
Chris Obi | Kintango |
Producers
Name | Role |
---|
LeVar Burton | Executive Producer |
Korin Williams | Executive Producer |
Marc Toberoff | Executive Producer |
Mike Stiller | Executive Producer |
Will Packer | Executive Producer |
Mark Rosenthal | Executive Producer |
Lawrence Konner | Executive Producer |
Barry Jossen | Executive Producer |
Mark Wolper | Executive Producer |
Alissa M. Kantrow | Producer |
Karen Mayeda Vranek | Producer |
Ann Kindberg | Producer |
Cheryl Eatock | Producer |
Editors
Trailers
Clips
Behind the Scenes
Year | Type | Category | Won |
---|
2016 | Emmy | Outstanding Casting for a Limited Series, Movie or Special | Nominated |
2016 | Emmy | Outstanding Narrator | Nominated |
2016 | Emmy | Outstanding Hairstyling for a Limited Series or a Movie | Nominated |
2016 | Emmy | Outstanding Makeup for a Limited Series or a Movie (Non-Prosthetic) | Nominated |
2016 | Emmy | Outstanding Limited Series | Nominated |
2016 | Emmy | Outstanding Costumes for a Period/Fantasy Series, Limited Series or Movie | Nominated |
2016 | Emmy | Outstanding Sound Editing for a Limited Series, Movie or Special | Nominated |