Hulu has released character videos of who’s playing which Wu-Tang member for their upcoming drama series Wu-Tang: An American Saga, which centers on creation of hip hop group Wu-Tang Clan. The 10-episode series will be making its debut on September 4, exclusively on Hulu.
Inspired by the books The Wu-Tang Manual and its sequel Tao of Wu, both written by the group’s frontman RZA, the series will be set at the height of the crack epidemic in ’90s-era New York and follow the group’s formation from a group of young black men who grow out of a life of crime into one of the most successful musical groups in American history, having sold 40 million albums worldwide and releasing five gold and platinum albums.
The series stars Shameik Moore (Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse, The Get Down), Ashton Sanders (Moonlight), Erika Alexander (Get Out, Black Lightning, Insecure), Julian Elijah Martinez (Elementary), Siddiq Sanderson (Messiah), Marcus Callender (Power), Zolee Griggs (Ballers), Vinnie Pastore (The Sopranos), Dave East (Beats), & Joey Bada$$.
Sanders is attached to play Bobby Diggs, based upon RZA, who grew up on a farm with his uncle and became hardened by the street life in order to provide for his family, but still holds a creative and thoughtful heart that longs to make music. Moore is set to play Sha Rader, who grew up on the streets and is a gunner for a drug dealer, but finds himself questioning his orders as he becomes closer to Bobby. Saunderson will play 19-year-old Dennis “D-Love” Coles, based upon Ghostface Killah, who works as the right-hand man to Bobby’s brother in the drug dealing business and will do anything to protect his family and friends.
Callender is attached to play Power Grant, the leader of the crime organization in Park HIll and the rival to Bobby’s brother’s gang in Stapleton. Griggs is set to play Shurrie, who when she’s not running her house of three other siblings and focusing on school, is secretly in a relationship with D-Love. Alexander will portray Linda, Shurrie’s mother who is working at a rib shop after ridding herself of her abusive husband and is struggling to balance her hectic work life with her increasingly strained relationship with her children. East is playing Shotgun, known to be a popular Staten Islander who works as an assistant manager at a concession stand near the Statue of Liberty. He is gifted with Hip-Hop’s rap element and manages to stay out of as much trouble as possible. Joey Bada$$ is playing Jason aka Inspectah Deck. Johnell Young is Gary, cousin to Bobby and known as The GZA. TJ Atoms is Ason, later to known as Ol’ Dirty Bastard (ODB).
Co-created by RZA and Alex Tse (Superfly), the series will be executive produced by Brian Grazer at Imagine Entertainment.
The clan consists of RZA, GZA, Method Man, Raekwon, Ghostface Killah, Inspectah Deck, U-God, Masta Killa, Cappadonna and Ol’ Dirty Bastard, who died in 2004 due to a drug overdose. The Killas, Deck, GZA and the Estate of Ol’ Dirty Bastard will serve as consulting producers on the series.
Official Trailer
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