Jurnee Smollett-Bell, WGN America, “Underground” Premiere March 8th. WGN America released key art for its critically acclaimed hit series “Underground” ahead of the thrilling second season premiere, returning Wednesday March 8, 2017 at 10:00 p.m. ET/PT. The release of the images coincides with the series’ participation at aTVfest where “Underground” is being honored today with the festival’s annual prestigious CAST AWARD for outstanding contributions to the art of television, adding to the series’ growing list of accomplishments including the most recent NAACP Image Awards nominations.
The striking new key art features returning cast including 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) and Amirah Vann (“Girls,” And So It Goes), along with all-new cast featuring Aisha Hinds (“Under the Dome,” Star Trek Into Darkness) in the pioneering role of Harriet Tubman, Jasika Nicole (“Fringe,” “Scandal”) as Georgia and DeWanda Wise (“Shots Fired”) as Clara.
Additional guest stars featured in the upcoming season include Academy Award® and Golden Globe® winner and ten-time Grammy Award® winning singer-songwriter John Legend as renowned abolitionist Frederick Douglass, along with Bokeem Woodbine (“Fargo”), Michael Trotter (“Rosewood”), Jesse Luken (“Justified,” 42) and Sadie Stratton (“Code Black,” “Boy Meets World”).
Season two of the 10-episode, hour-long series follows an unremitting struggle for freedom within a divided America on the brink of civil war, each side vying to enact their own justice. Set in the aftermath of the Macon 7’s daring attempt to stage the greatest escape in history, this group of American heroes continues on their harrowing journey to freedom, with legendary abolitionist Harriet Tubman blazing the trail.
“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 recently honored with a number of recognitions including four NAACP Image Awards nominations for Outstanding Drama Series, Outstanding Actress in a Drama Series (Jurnee Smollett-Bell), Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series (Amirah Vann) and Outstanding Directing in a Dramatic Series (Anthony Hemingway). Additionally, the African American Film Critics Association named “Underground” as Best TV Show (Cable/New Media) and the second highest show overall for 2016, and is also honoring Director Anthony Hemmingway with their 2017 Horizon Award. The series was nominated for a TCA Award for Outstanding New Program by the Television Critics Association and is a finalist for the Cynopsis TV Awards in the categories of Best New TV Drama, Best TV Drama, Best Series Writing, and Best Showrunner.
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 Award® winning executive producer/director Anthony Hemingway (“The People V. O.J. Simpson: American Crime Story,” “The Wire”); 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 (Southside with You, La La Land).; and Mark Taylor (“MadTV”). Season two of the gripping original drama was shot in Savannah, Georgia.
