The remake of a 1977 miniseries based on Alex Haley's novel is also supported by Anika Noni Rose, Chad L. Coleman, Derek Luke, and Laurence Fishburne.
- Sep 18, 2015
AceShowbiz - A&E announces cast members for the four-night, eight-hour miniseries "Roots", a remake of a 1977 miniseries based on Alex Haley's novel about a family's struggle to survive the American slavery system. Forest Whitaker, Anna Paquin, and Jonathan Rhys-Meyers are among the actors picked to star in the revival.
Whitaker will play Fiddler, a slave who assists the main protagonist, Kunta Kinte, in his escape attempts. Paquin is cast as Nancy Holt, a Confederate officer's wife who has her own agenda when it comes to the handling of slaves. Rhys-Meyers will portray Tom Lea, an uneducated slave owner desperate to claw his way into the elite company of Southern gentility.
Malachi Kirby is tapped as the main character, Kinte, originally played by LeVar Burton. Anika Noni Rose ("The Good Wife") is cast as Kinte's daughter, Kizzy, and Rege-Jean Page joins the cast as Kizzy's son, Chicken George.
Derek Luke ("Empire) is added as Silla Ba Dibba, the military trainer charged with transforming teen boys into powerful warriors. Chad L. Coleman ("The Walking Dead) will play Mingo, a stern no-nonsense slave who keeps the Lea plantation afloat, and Erica Tazel ("Justified") is cast as Matilda, a preacher's daughter and love interest to Chicken George.
Production is underway in New Orleans and will begin later this month in South Africa. Laurence Fishburne ("Hannibal) is expected to play Alex Haley, who wrote the novel. The remake is described as an "original, contemporary production, incorporating material from Haley's novel, as well as carefully researched new scholarship of the time."
Mario Van Peebles ("New Jack City") and two-time Oscar nominee Bruce Beresford ("Driving Miss Daisy) are attached to direct an installment each. They join Phillip Noyce ("Patriot Games") and Emmy winner Thomas Carter ("Coach") who are set to direct nights one and three respectively.
