Entertainment
History’s Epic Event Series ‘Roots’ Set to Premier This May on Same Day As the US
6:43 AM
PHILIPPINES – March 21, 2016 – HISTORY®premieres “Roots”
on 31 May 2016, airing over four consecutive nights at 9pm (PH). 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 introducesRegé-Jean Page
(“Chicken George”) and Malachi Kirby (“KuntaKinte”).
“’Roots’ will allow new audiences to experience this
epic family saga with a new vision that is both inspiring and tremendously
entertaining,” said Paul Buccieri, President of A&E and HISTORY. “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 Jossenserve 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.”
HISTORY™ is available on SKY Cable Ch 67; Cable Link
Ch. 43; Dream Satellite Ch 30; Destiny Cable Ch 57; and Cignal Ch 125.
