The first trailer for the History Channel’s remake of the 1977 slavery epic, Roots has officially been released, and in under 3 minutes, similarly captures the intensity of its predecessor.
The original feature film, based on Alex Haley’s novel, chronicles the life of African slave, Kunta Kinte, from the moments of captivity to his time on a Southern plantation. The remake, which will be a four-part, eight-hour miniseries, will feature many of those memorable scenes and moments.
In the trailer, British actor, Malachi Kirby is the man telling Kunta’s story, which was originally played by Levar Burton, who serves as the executive producer for the miniseries. Kunta is first shown in Africa before boarding a slave ship and later sold to a slave master. Although very brief, the trailer depicts many of the harsh realities of slavery and captivity.
The preview also cuts to an A-list of supporting acts including, Forest Whitaker, Laurence Fishburne , Anika Noni Rose, Mekhi Phifer, and T.I.
The four-part series is set to premiere on the History Channel during Memorial Day Weekend on May 30. Check out the trailer below.
https://youtube.com/watch?v=ZZwaqFhs9fo