Stars Jurnee Smollett-Bell, Aldis Hodge, Christopher Meloni, Alano Miller, Jessica de Gouw Return;Breakout Star Amirah Vann’s Role as Ernestine Expanded to Series Regular in Season Two
Jasika Nicole (“Fringe”), Michael Trotter (“Rosewood”) and Jesse Luken (“Justified”) Join Season Two as Recurring Guest Stars
From Creators/Executive Producers Misha Green and Joe Pokaskiand Executive Producer John Legend,“Underground” Season Two Production Begins August 29 in Savannah, Georgia for Early 2017 Debut
Los Angeles and Savannah, GA (August 24, 2016) – Not only will Harriet Tubman grace the face of the new $20 bill, but she will also have a starring role in WGN America’s hit series “Underground,” from Sony Pictures Television, which begins production on season two in Savannah, Georgia on Monday, August 29. Aisha Hinds (“Under the Dome,” “True Blood,” Star Trek Into Darkness) has been cast as a recurring guest star in the pioneering role of Harriet Tubman, the Underground Railroad's most famous conductor revered for her grit, perseverance and unrelenting will to help scores of enslaved people reach their freedom. Born a slave, Tubman is a devout Christian who, after escaping herself, risks her life again and again in order to free her family members and lead anyone willing to journey north across hostile territory, to freedom—a task she believes is her God-given mission. The new season of WGN America’s 10-episode Underground Railroad thriller follows an unremitting struggle for freedom within a divided America on the brink of civil war, each side vying to enact their own justice.
“Underground” delivered 3 million Total Viewers weekly, and made history as WGN America's most-watched original program ever in its freshman season. The series was honored with screenings across the country including the White House and ranked as the #1 most discussed cable drama on social media each week it aired. From creators and executive producers Misha Green and Joe Pokaski and executive producers John Legend, Akiva Goldsman, Tory Tunnell, Joby Harold, Mike Jackson, Ty Stiklorius and Emmy® -nominated director Anthony Hemingway, “Underground” season two will premiere in early 2017 on WGN America.
Starring in the celebrated “Underground” season two cast are Jurnee Smollett-Bell (“True Blood,” “Friday Night Lights”) as Rosalee; Aldis Hodge (Straight Outta Compton, Hidden Figures) as Noah; Christopher Meloni (“Law & Order: Special Victims Unit,” Sin City: A Dame to Kill For) as August Pullman; Alano Miller (“Jane The Virgin”) as Cato; Jessica de Gouw (“Arrow,” “Dracula”) as Elizabeth Hawkes; Amirah Vann (“Girls,” And So It Goes) as Ernestine; and Marc Blucas (“Blue Bloods”) as John Hawkes.
AmirahVann, whose breakout performance as Ernestine was lauded as “spellbinding” (Wall Street Journal) and “tremendous” (Entertainment Weekly), will be a series regular in season two, expanded from her recurring role in season one where her character’s fate at the auction block left viewers on the edge of their seats.
Joining the cast in season two are recurring guest stars Jasika Nicole (“Fringe,” “Scandal”) as Georgia, an abolitionist with a covert station along the Underground whose quiet confidence hides secrets of her own; Michael Trotter (“Rosewood”) as Biographer, an astute observer of people who lives through the lives of others often fearful of taking chances; and Jesse Luken (“Justified,” 42) as Smoke, the fearless second in command of Patty Cannon’s infamous gang of slave catchers.
This summer, “Underground” was featured at the NAACP National Convention, where the series and its stars received a standing ovation at the National Underground Railroad Center in Cincinnati, Ohio. “Underground” was also highlighted at the National Association of Black Journalists and the National Association of Hispanic Journalists Conference in Washington DC with a panel discussion on the social movement “Underground” has become.
“Underground,” which tells the unflinching story of some of America’s valiant heroes—enslaved people who risked their lives to reach freedom—was recently honored with three CableFax Awards, including Best New Program, Best Historical Show/Series and Best Showrunners, Misha Green and Joe Pokaski.
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WGN America and Tribune Studios
WGN America, the flagship entertainment network of Tribune Media Company (NYSE: TRCO) is nationally distributed in nearly 80 million homes via cable, satellite and telco, with high-quality entertainment programming including the breakout hit series “Outsiders,” “Underground” and “Salem." The network also brings its audience a strong slate of popular first-run syndicated series and blockbuster movies. Through Tribune Studios, the creative development arm of Tribune Media, original content is produced for WGN America and Tribune local stations nationwide. Follow the network on Twitter @wgnamerica. For additional information, please visit www.wgnamerica.com.
About Sony Pictures Television
Sony Pictures Television is one of the television industry’s leading content providers, producing and distributing programming worldwide in every genre and for every platform. In addition to managing one of the industry’s largest libraries of award-winning feature films, television shows and formats, SPT is home to a thriving US production business and operates 17 wholly-owned or joint venture production companies in 13 countries around the world. SPT’s worldwide networks portfolio includes 150 channel feeds, which are available in 178 countries reaching more than 1.3 billion cumulative households worldwide. Sony Pictures Television (SPT) is a Sony Pictures Entertainment Company.
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