"The original 'Roots' for the late 1970's was the best it could be for them.
I believe that we have made this 'Roots' the best it could be today."
- Executive Producer Mark Wolper
As you know, ROOTS first aired in 1977, and immediately shook the world. As we approach the 40th anniversary of the original series, an amazing cast - Forest Whitaker, Anika Noni Rose, Laurence Fishburne, LeVar Burton and more - are joining with HISTORY to reimagine ROOTS for a new generation. The series will debut over four consecutive nights starting Monday, May 30 (Memorial Day) at 9pm ET on The History Channel.
ABOUT ROOTS:
HISTORY premieres "Roots" on Memorial Day 2016, airing over four consecutive nights at 9 p.m. beginning Monday, May 30. 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. The stellar cast includes Academy Award winners Forest Whitaker ("Fiddler") and Anna Paquin ("Nancy Holt"); Academy Award nominee and Emmy Award winner Laurence Fishburne ("Alex Haley"); Tony Award winner Anika Noni Rose ("Kizzy"); Grammy Award winner Tip "T.I." Harris ("Cyrus"); Derek Luke ("Silla Ba Dibba"); Mekhi Phifer ("Jerusalem"), and introducing Rege-Jean Page ("Chicken George") and Malachi Kirby ("Kunta Kinte").
"Roots" is an A+E Studios production in association with Marc Toberoff and The Wolper Organization, the company that produced the original "Roots." Will Packer, Marc Toberoff, Mark Wolper, Lawrence Konner, Mark Rosenthal and Barry Jossen serve as executive producers. "Roots" 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 "Roots."
HISTORY premieres "Roots" on Memorial Day 2016, airing over four consecutive nights at 9 p.m. beginning Monday, May 30. 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. The stellar cast includes Academy Award winners Forest Whitaker ("Fiddler") and Anna Paquin ("Nancy Holt"); Academy Award nominee and Emmy Award winner Laurence Fishburne ("Alex Haley"); Tony Award winner Anika Noni Rose ("Kizzy"); Grammy Award winner Tip "T.I." Harris ("Cyrus"); Derek Luke ("Silla Ba Dibba"); Mekhi Phifer ("Jerusalem"), and introducing Rege-Jean Page ("Chicken George") and Malachi Kirby ("Kunta Kinte").
"Roots" is an A+E Studios production in association with Marc Toberoff and The Wolper Organization, the company that produced the original "Roots." Will Packer, Marc Toberoff, Mark Wolper, Lawrence Konner, Mark Rosenthal and Barry Jossen serve as executive producers. "Roots" 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 "Roots."
TV ONE'S NEWSONE NOW REMEMBERS ''ROOTS" WITH SPECIAL BROADCAST
TV One's NewsOne Now, the first morning news program to focus on news and analysis of culture from an explicitly African-American perspective, will focus on the importance of HISTORY's upcoming event series remake, "Roots," and how the American classic series has shaped the future of the Black community. Featuring footage and interviews from The White House's recent day-long exploration of how American stories are found, NewsOne Now's broadcast also included a series of group interviews with "Roots" cast members and producers, including Tony Award® winner Anika Noni Rose, Co-Executive Producer LeVar Burton, Executive Producers Will Packer and Mark Wolper, Directors Phillip Noyce and Mario Van Peebles and A+E Networks President and CEO Nancy Dubuc.
During his interview with Packer, host and managing editor Roland S. Martin, asked the "Roots" executive producer about the lasting effect the new event series will have on this generation. "It's really for the brothers and the sisters who hadn't seen the first one, but think they know the story," said Packer. "It's also for those who don't want to be faced with another narrative of our journey, but need to be because it's compelling and important. You can't move forward in the right direction within your community without truly acknowledging your history."
NewsOne Now also captured Rose, who plays "Kizzy," explaining "Roots" as not just a remake but a reimagining of an African-American classic. "People have a picture of Africa now and then; that is a place of deprivation or a place of less than and that simply is not the case."
She continued, "It was the first place of beginning, the first library, the first university. We are able to utilize this story in a much more thorough way and not because Mr. Haley didn't do all that he could. We are now being able to utilize his story and are able to tell the story in a more complete fashion."
During his interview with Packer, host and managing editor Roland S. Martin, asked the "Roots" executive producer about the lasting effect the new event series will have on this generation. "It's really for the brothers and the sisters who hadn't seen the first one, but think they know the story," said Packer. "It's also for those who don't want to be faced with another narrative of our journey, but need to be because it's compelling and important. You can't move forward in the right direction within your community without truly acknowledging your history."
NewsOne Now also captured Rose, who plays "Kizzy," explaining "Roots" as not just a remake but a reimagining of an African-American classic. "People have a picture of Africa now and then; that is a place of deprivation or a place of less than and that simply is not the case."
She continued, "It was the first place of beginning, the first library, the first university. We are able to utilize this story in a much more thorough way and not because Mr. Haley didn't do all that he could. We are now being able to utilize his story and are able to tell the story in a more complete fashion."
Will Packer discusses roots
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Anika Noni rose discusses roots
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Video and Photography, courtesy of TVOne
About News One Now
Emanating from the heart of Washington D.C. in a state-of-the-art studio that offers a stunning view of the Capitol building, News One Now airs Monday through Friday on TV One from 7-8 a.m. ET. News One Now is hosted by Roland S. Martin, the 2013 National Association of Black Journalists' Journalist of the Year and former host of TV One's long-running, award-winning weekly news program, Washington Watch with Roland Martin. Each morning, Martin - who also serves as the program's managing editor - sifts through the headlines of the day to spotlight matters that greatly impact the African-American community. In addition to television, News One Now reaches audiences 24/7 with exclusive program content and extended editorial on NewsOne.com and the NewsOne mobile app. News One Now is an evolution of Interactive One's award-winning digital brand NewsOne.com that launched in 2008 and reaches millions of African Americans each month. Susan Henry is executive producer of News One Now. D'Angela Proctor is TV One's head of original programming and production.
About TV One
Launched in January 2004, TV One (www.tvone.tv) serves 57 million households, offering a broad range of real-life and entertainment-focused original programming, classic series, movies and music designed to entertain, inform and inspire a diverse audience of adult black viewers. In December 2008, the company launched TV One High Def, which now serves 14 million households. TV One is owned by Radio One [NASDAQ: ROIA and ROIAK; www.radio-one.com], the largest radio company that primarily targets Black and urban listeners.
The miniseries ROOTS first aired in 1977, and immediately shook the world. As we approach the 40th anniversary of the original series, an amazing cast and crew is joining with HISTORY® to reimagine ROOTS for a new generation – the new ROOTS will air on HISTORY for 4 nights.
When ROOTS aired in 1977, it took the country by storm. Alex Haley’s seminal novel, Roots: The Saga of an American Family, was brought to life by LeVar Burton, John Amos, Cicely Tyson, Lou Gossett Jr. and other iconic actors, and was produced by the legendary David Wolper. ROOTS told the story of Kunta Kinte, an African who is abducted from his village, sold into slavery, and taken to America. Through several generations of American history, the series follows Kunta Kinte and his family’s struggle for freedom. Over 130 million viewers watched over the course of 8 consecutive nights, nearly half of the U.S. population at the time. It was a seminal moment in American history. It was the first time that a television series started a conversation about slavery, race, identity, family, and freedom.
On May 30, 2016, ROOTS will shock the world again. Will Packer, LeVar Burton and Mark Wolper - the son of original producer David Wolper - have teamed up with an amazing cast and crew – including Laurence Fishburne, Forest Whitaker, Anika Noni Rose, Mario Van Peebles, Thomas Carter and the new Kunta Kinte, Malachi Kirby – to produce a reimagined ROOTS for a new generation of viewers. The new ROOTS from A+E Studios has benefited from rich new scholarship about life in The Gambia and on American plantations during the 18th and 19th centuries. From musical supervision by Questlove to stunning costume designs by the legendary Ruth Carter, the 2016 ROOTS miniseries will breathe vibrant life into Kunta Kinte, Kizzy, Chicken George and the rest of their family’s breathtaking journeys. Viewers will be able to watch the new ROOTS on HISTORY over four consecutive nights beginning Memorial Day,
May 30, 2016.