{"id":74649,"date":"2016-02-11T16:20:23","date_gmt":"2016-02-11T16:20:23","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/0de2709a84.nxcli.net\/0-kjasnb\/2016\/02\/11\/historys-roots-set-to-premiere-memorial-day-2016%e2%80%8f\/"},"modified":"2018-12-18T03:31:47","modified_gmt":"2018-12-18T03:31:47","slug":"historys-roots-set-to-premiere-memorial-day-2016%e2%80%8f","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.blackfilm.com\/read\/historys-roots-set-to-premiere-memorial-day-2016%e2%80%8f\/","title":{"rendered":"HISTORY\u2019s \u201cRoots\u201d Set to Premiere Memorial Day 2016\u200f"},"content":{"rendered":"

HISTORY\u2019s \u201cRoots\u201d Set to Premiere Memorial Day 2016\u200f <\/strong>Posted by Wilson Morales<\/p>\n

February 11, 2016<\/p>\n

\"History<\/a><\/p>\n

HISTORY premieres \u201cRoots\u201d<\/strong> on Memorial Day 2016<\/strong>, airing over four consecutive nights at 9 p.m. beginning Monday, May 30, it was announced today by Paul Buccieri, President of A&E and HISTORY. 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. \u201cRoots\u201d will be simulcast on A&E and Lifetime, in addition to HISTORY.<\/p>\n

\"Roots<\/a>The stellar cast includes Academy Award\u00ae winners Forest Whitaker<\/strong> (\u201cFiddler\u201d) and Anna Paquin<\/strong> (\u201cNancy Holt\u201d); Academy Award nominee and Emmy Award winner Laurence Fishburne<\/strong> (\u201cAlex Haley\u201d); Golden Globe Award winning and Emmy Award nominated actor Jonathan Rhys Meyers<\/strong> (\u201cTom Lea\u201d); Tony Award winner Anika Noni Rose<\/strong> (\u201cKizzy\u201d); Grammy Award winner Tip \u201cT.I.\u201d Harris<\/strong> (\u201cCyrus\u201d); Emayatzy Corinealdi<\/strong> (\u201cBelle\u201d); Matthew Goode<\/strong> (\u201cDr. William Waller\u201d); Mekhi Phifer<\/strong> (\u201cJerusalem\u201d); James Purefoy<\/strong> (\u201cJohn Waller\u201d) and introduces Reg\u00e9-Jean Page<\/strong> (\u201cChicken George\u201d) and Malachi Kirby<\/strong> (\u201cKunta Kinte\u201d).<\/p>\n

\"Roots<\/a>\u201c\u2019Roots\u2019 will allow new audiences to experience this epic family saga with a new vision that is both incredibly inspiring and tremendously entertaining,\u201d<\/strong> said Buccieri. \u201cWe are proud that HISTORY will be able to bring new life to this incredible story that remains as important today as it did when the original \u2018Roots\u2019 first premiered.\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u201cNearly 40 years ago I had the privilege to be a part of an epic television event that started an important conversation in America,\u201d<\/strong> said LeVar Burton, Co-Executive Producer. \u201cI 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.”<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u201cRoots\u201d is an A+E Studios production in association with Marc Toberoff and The Wolper Organization, the company that produced the original \u201cRoots.\u201d Will Packer, Marc Toberoff, Mark Wolper, Lawrence Konner, Mark Rosenthal and Barry Jossen serve as executive producers. LeVar Burton and Korin D. Huggins are co-executive producers. Questlove is executive music producer. \u201cRoots\u201d 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 \u201cRoots.\u201d<\/p>\n