'Roots' Remake Cast News, Details: A&E's Revival Project To See Actors Forest Whitaker, Anna Paquin, and More In the Limited Miniseries Event
The multi Emmy-award winning 70's television miniseries "Roots" is finally getting a revival and included in its list of new cast members are the big names in Hollywood like Forest Whitaker, Anna Paquin, and Chad L. Coleman, just to name a few.
The report from TVLine provided a detailed rundown of the actors cast to play the roles in the upcoming four-night, eight-hour scripted miniseries TV event.
As indicated by the media outlet, Whitaker is Fiddler, a slave who puts his life in danger as he tries to mentor and aid in the escape of protagonist Kunta Kinte.
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The part of Kinte is reported to involve a rather "extensive global search" effort that landed the newcomer Malachi Kirby taking the part of the "Mandinka warrior who is educated, proud, strong and resilient."
Paquin, on the other hand, has been cast as Nancy Holt, the wife of a Confederate officer with personal intentions when it comes to managing their household slaves.
Adding to the list is "Empire" star Derek Luke who is headlining the role of Silla Ba Dibba, a trainer of Juffure, whose task is to turn young boys into powerful Mandinka Warriors.
"The Good Wife" actress Anika Noni Rose, on the other hand, will be Kizzy "the cherished, smart daughter of Kunta Kinte who maintains her family pride and warrior spirit."
Coleman, whose "The Walking Dead" character (Tyreese Williams) recently departed, will be Mingo, the "stern no-nonsense slave" who is responsible in keeping the Lea plantation afloat.
The part of Tom Lea, meanwhile, will be done by "The Tudors" actor Jonathan Rhys Meyers. His character is described as an "uneducated slave owner." Despite this, all his efforts are geared towards making his way into the "elite company of Southern gentility."
The A&E casting announcement went on to reveal Erica Tazel as Matilda, "a preacher's daughter and love interest to 'Chicken George.'" The latter's role of the eloquent story teller meanwhile goes to Rege-Jean Page.
Production for the revival series is reportedly happening in New Orleans with the actual filming to commence by early October in South Africa.
The show, which borrows from Alex Haley's 1976 novel, "Roots: The Saga of an American Family," is set to air on History, A&E, and Lifetime channels on a date yet to be announced.
Stay tuned for more updates.
