CALLING ALL โUNDERGROUNDโ FANS!ย
STARS OF WGN AMERICAโS SMASH HIT โUNDERGROUNDโ TAKE CENTER STAGE AT 2016 ESSENCE FESTIVAL IN NEW ORLEANS
ย ALDIS HODGE (โNoahโ), ALANO MILLER (โCatoโ), AMIRAH VANN (โErnestineโ) AND DIRECTOR ANTHONY HEMINGWAY TO APPEAR ON THE MAIN STAGE,
FRIDAY, JULY 1 AT 12:15 P.M. AT THE ERNEST N. MORIAL CONVENTION CENTER
Los Angeles, June 23, 2016 โ The celebrated stars andย director of WGN Americaโs Underground Railroad thriller โUnderground,โ one of the most highly acclaimed television series of the year, will take center stage at the 2016 Essence Festival, the nationโs premier showcase for African American music and culture. ย
Aldis Hodge (Noah), Alano Miller (Cato), and Amirah Vann (Ernestine), with noted director and executive producer Anthony Hemingway, will discuss the phenomenon the record-breaking series “Underground” has become, during a not-to-be missed panel discussion at the Ernest N. Morial Convention Centerย on Friday, July 1 from 12:15 p.m. โ 12:35 p.m.ย Following the main stage experience, lucky โUndergroundโ fans will be able toย meet the cast and director during an exclusive Fan Zone event.ย โฌโฌ
From executive producer John Legend and creators and executive producers Misha Green and Joe Pokaski, โUndergroundโ tells the unflinching story of some of Americaโs most heroic freedom fightersโslaves who risked their lives to reach freedom and claim their civil rights.ย The critically lauded series was recently nominated for a Television Critics Association award for Outstanding New Program.ย Season two will begin production this summer for a 2017 debut.
The first season of WGN America’s “Underground” captured the pop culture zeitgeist and scored 3 million Total Viewers in Live + 7 delivery on Wednesday nights, and made history asย the network’s most-watched original series ever.ย The series also ignited Twitter as the #1 most social cable drama on Wednesday nights and trended worldwide on the same day the U.S. Treasury Department announced Harriet Tubman would replace Andrew Jackson on the $20 bill.
From executive producer John Legend, โUndergroundโ is created by Misha Green (“Sons of Anarchy,” “Heroes”) and Joe Pokaski (โDaredevil,โ “Heroes,”) who executive produce alongside Academy Award-winner Akiva Goldsman (“A Beautiful Mind,” “I Am Legend”) of Weed Road Pictures; and Joby Harold (“King Arthur,” “Edge of Tomorrow“) and Tory Tunnell (“King Arthur,” “Holy Rollers”) of Safehouse Pictures; Get Lifted partners Mike Jackson and Ty Stiklorius executive produce.
Additionally, Get Lifted oversees all elements of the showโs music. Anthony Hemingway (โThe Wire,โ โTremeโ) directs and executive produces the series.
The freshman season of “Underground” featured an acclaimed cast, including Jurnee Smollett-Bell (โTrue Blood,โ โFridayNightย Lightsโ), Aldis Hodge (โStraight Outta Comptonโ), Christopher Meloni (โSin City: A Dame to Kill Forโ), Alano Miller(โJane The Virginโ), โJessica de Gouw (โArrow,โ โDraculaโ), Marc Blucas (โBuffy the Vampire Slayerโ), โAdina Porter (โThe 100โ), Mykelti Williamson (โJustified,โ โ24โ), โAmirah Vann (โGirls,โ โAnd So It Goesโ), Johnny Ray Gill (โRectifyโ), Chris Chalk (โGothamโ), Reed Diamond (โAgents of S.H.I.E.L.D.โ), Theodus Crane (โThe Walking Deadโ), James Lafferty (โOne Tree Hillโ), Renwick Scott (โTremeโ) and Jussie Smollett (โEmpireโ).ย โฌโฌ
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WGN America and Tribune Studios
WGN America, the flagship entertainment network of Tribune Media Company (NYSE: TRCO) is nationally distributed in nearly 80 million homes via cable, satellite and telco, with high-quality entertainment programming including the breakout hit series โOutsiders,โ โUndergroundโ and โSalem.”
The network also brings its audience a strong slate of popular first-run syndicated series and blockbuster movies.ย Through Tribune Studios, the creative development arm of Tribune Media, original content is produced for WGN America and Tribune local Radio Stations nationwide.ย Follow the network on Twitter @wgnamerica.ย For additional information, please visitย www.wgnamerica.com.
