THE
REVOLUTION WILL BE TELEVISED
WGN
AMERICA PRESENTS A LANDMARK TELEVISION EVENT WITH HARRIET TUBMAN
COMMANDING THE SCREEN IN A MUST-WATCH EPISODE OF “UNDERGROUND”
Aisha
Hinds Channels the Legendary Freedom Fighter for a Stirring, Solo
Performance in an All-New, Extended Episode Airing at a Special Time
on Wednesday, April 12 at 8:00 p.m. ET/PT, with Back-to-Back Encores
Throughout the Night
Pictured
Above: Aisha
Hinds as Harriet Tubman on WGN America’s “Underground”
Links
to View Trailers:
This
Season on “Underground”:
"I
was conductor of the Underground Railroad for eight years, and I can
say what most conductors can't say – I never ran my train off the
track and I never lost a passenger."
- Harriet Tubman
LOS
ANGELES, March 31, 2017 –
WGN America
announced today that the sixth installment of its gripping, hit
series, “Underground,”
slated to air at a special time on Wednesday,
April 12 at 8:00 p.m. ET/PT,
will in its entirety feature a solo performance by Aisha
Hinds (“Under the Dome,”
Star Trek Into Darkness),
whose electrifying portrayal of Harriet
Tubman has already captivated
viewers and critics around the country.
Tubman, the Underground Railroad's most famous conductor, risks her
life repeatedly 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.
"When
introducing someone as iconic as Harriet Tubman, we felt compelled to
attempt an episode as revolutionary as her spirit. When we learned
through research in 1858 she began to give talks about her life to
like-minded abolitionists to raise money for the cause, we knew we
had our in: A 'Ted Talk' with Harriet Tubman," said
"Underground" Creators, Writers and Executive Producers
Misha Green and Joe Pokaski. "Our amazing crew, led by our
director/executive producer Anthony Hemingway, set a beautiful stage
for Aisha Hinds' powerhouse performance. And we can only hope we did
Araminta 'Minty' Ross proud."
"This
episode is truly one of a kind. It alone, masterfully revolutionizes
TV storytelling," said Anthony Hemingway, "Underground"
Director and Executive Producer. "Aisha surrenders herself to
the spirit of Harriet Tubman and gracefully reintroduces us to
Harriet’s humanity by sharing her story, in a chillingly
exceptional performance. I am extremely proud of the amazing
artistry that every cast and crew member poured into making
'Underground,' it's the most exhilarating experience I’ve had as a
filmmaker."
Hinds
remarked, "Playing Harriet Tubman is both a great honor and also
a tremendous call to duty as we examine how familiar the pain of our
past can be felt in the present. In sight of and in spite of the
overwhelming obstacles stacked against her, Harriet transcended
bondage and inspired generations in the pursuit of liberty."
In
the all-new, extended episode
entitled, “Minty,” written
by series co-creators Misha
Green and Joe
Pokaski, and directed by Emmy
and Golden Globe Award®
winner Anthony Hemingway,
Tubman delivers a monumental and definitive speech about her life,
her divine purpose and the perilous but necessary fight for freedom.
Set in 1858 against the backdrop of a nation deeply divided by race,
class and gender, Tubman makes a passionate plea to abolitionists to
shift their thinking as she challenges them to take swift action
against those who are determined to oppress others. In a career
defining move, Hinds unleashes a transcendent performance that is not
to be missed. “Minty”
will air on Wednesday, April 12 during a special time slot at 8:00
p.m. ET/PT on WGN America, with back-to-back encore airings
throughout the night.
Aisha
Hinds’ performance as Harriet Tubman is widely critically lauded,
including this sampling of recent reviews:
- “Hinds’ Tubman is a masterstroke” – Dominic Patten, Deadline
- “Aisha Hinds’ rifle-toting Harriet Tubman only underlines how righteously fun and feminist the show has become.” – Tim Goodman and Daniel Fienberg, Hollywood Reporter
- “Riveting performance by Aisha Hinds.” – Mariya Moseley, Essence
- “…from the moment she appears onscreen, she oozes that larger-than-life image.” – LaToya Ferguson, Entertainment Weekly
- “Offering the show's devoted fan base a living, breathing tribute to Tubman's heart, resourcefulness and courage that dusty history books couldn't possibly convey.”– Lori Acken, TV Insider
- “Harriet Tubman, played by Aisha Hinds, brings the real-life hero…from historical figure to three-dimensional person this season.” – Malcolm Venable, TV Guide
- “Aisha Hinds is a … bonafide scene-stealer… and heartstring puller.” – Satchel B. Jester, Upscale Magazine
- “[Aisha Hinds’] most recent role to date is her finest — Harriet Tubman.” – Monique Meneses, US Magazine
- “…incandescent, slyly funny Aisha Hinds”– Matt Brennan, Paste
- “Hinds channels all of the grit, gravitas and ungrammatical profundity of a mid-life Tubman with brilliant forte… She gives flesh, blood, sweat, and tears to Tubman in a way that we have never seen before.” – Kelisha Graves, BlackFilm.com
- “Aisha Hinds is killing it at Harriet Tubman…I don’t think anyone else could’ve have done a better job, and I’m loving everything about her.” – Eddie Villanueva Jr., NerdReactor.com
- “Aisha Hinds makes her much-anticipated debut as Harriet Tubman and if there was ever a time where sistahs were doing it for themselves, this is it.” – Krystal Franklin, BLACKAMERICAWEB.COM
- “Hinds… entrance is undeniably exciting.” – Danette Chavez, AVLCUB.COM
- “A good character introduction is one of the greatest joys television can offer, and in the March 8 “Underground” season premiere, viewers were treated to two of them. [Aisha Hinds and Jasika Nicole] – Maureen Ryan, Variety
The
10-episode second season of “Underground” follows an unremitting
struggle for freedom within a divided America on the brink of civil
war, each side vying to enact their own justice. The
celebrated season two cast includes: Jurnee
Smollett-Bell (“Friday Night
Lights,” The Great Debaters),
Aldis Hodge
(Straight Outta Compton,
Hidden Figures),
Jessica de Gouw
(“Arrow,” “Dracula”), Alano
Miller (Loving,
“Atlanta”), Christopher
Meloni (“Law & Order:
Special Victims Unit,” Sin
City: A Dame to Kill For),
Amirah Vann
(“Girls,” And So It Goes)
and Marc Blucas
(“Blue Bloods”). Additional guest stars this season include Aisha
Hinds (“Under the Dome,”
Star Trek Into Darkness)
in the pioneering role of Harriet
Tubman, along with
Bokeem Woodbine (“Fargo”),
Jasika Nicole
(“Fringe,” “Scandal”), DeWanda
Wise (“Shots Fired”),
Michael Trotter
(“Rosewood”), Jesse Luken
(“Justified,” 42),
Sadie Stratton (“Code
Black,” “Boy Meets World”), Robert
Christopher Riley (“Hit the
Floor”), and Academy Award®
and Golden Globe®
winner and ten-time Grammy Award®
winning singer-songwriter John
Legend as renowned
abolitionist Frederick Douglass.
Hailing
from Sony Pictures Television, “Underground” is created and
written by Misha Green ("Sons
of Anarchy," "Heroes") and Joe
Pokaski ("Heroes,"
"Daredevil"), who serve as Executive Producers alongside
Emmy-winning director Anthony
Hemingway (“The People
v. O.J. Simpson,” “Treme”); Academy Award-winning writer Akiva
Goldsman (A
Beautiful Mind, I Am Legend)
of Weed Road Pictures; Tory
Tunnell (King
Arthur, Holy Rollers) and Joby
Harold (King
Arthur, Edge of Tomorrow) of
Safehouse Pictures; John
Legend, Mike
Jackson and Ty
Stiklorius of Get Lifted Film
Co (La La Land, Southside with
You); and Mark
Taylor (“MadTV”).
About
WGN America
WGN
America, the flagship entertainment network of Tribune Media Company
(NYSE: TRCO) is nationally distributed in approximately 80 million
homes via cable, satellite and telco, with high-quality entertainment
programming including the breakout hit series “Outsiders” and
“Underground.” The network also brings its audience a strong
slate of popular first-run syndicated series and blockbuster movies.
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.
Social
Media Handles:
Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/UndergroundWGN
Twitter:
@UndergroundWGN
Instagram:@UndergroundWGN
“Underground”
cast on Twitter:
Jurnee
Smollett-Bell
@jurneesmollett
Aldis
Hodge @AldisHodge
Alano
Miller @AlanoMiller
Jessica
de Gouw @jessdegouw
Amirah
Vann @amirahvann
Christopher
Meloni @Chris_Meloni
Marc
Blucas @marcblucas
Aisha
Hinds @AishaHinds
Jasika
Nicole @TheJasikaNicole
DeWanda Wise @DeWandaWise
DeWanda Wise @DeWandaWise
Jesse
Luken @JesseLuken
Sadie
Stratton
@sadie_stratton
Robert
C. Riley
@RobRileyNYC
“Underground”
creative team on Twitter:
John
Legend @johnlegend
Misha
Green @MishaGreen
Joe
Pokaski @JoePokaski
Anthony
Hemingway @shinybootz
Akiva
Goldsman @AkivaGoldsman
Ty
Stiklorius @tystiklorius
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