Roots
Night 4
Directed by Bruce Beresford
Written by Lawrence Konner
Based on the novel by Alex Haley
Starring Laurence Fishburne, Regé-Jean Page, Anika Noni Rose, Jonathan Rhys Meyers, Mekhi Phifer, T.I., Erica Tazel, Anna Paquin, Sedale Threatt Jr., and Malachi Kirby
The History Channel | A&E | Lifetime
Air Date: Thursday, June 2nd, 2016, 9:00pm

The past 3 nights, A&E, The History Channel, and Lifetime have simultaneously aired the first 3 parts of the “Groundbreaking Series Reimagined” – Roots, based on Alex Haley’s 1976 novel. The original 1977 series starring Levar Burton and John Amos as warrior turned slave (but a warrior forever in his heart), Kunta Kinte, followed him and his generations of family through the brutal history of America. This week we cried and cringed and laughed and raged with these strong characters and brilliant actors. On Night 1, we met Kunta Kinte (Malachi Kirby) ripped away from his happy life in Africa, to be whipped and chained as a slave in America, always trying to escape. On Night 2, Kunta loses half a foot for running, and settles down with his wife Belle (Emayatzy Corinealdi) and his daughter Kizzy (E’myri Lee Crutchfield), teaching her the ways of a warrior. Kizzy is sold to another, ripped from her parents loving arms. Night 3 was the story of Kizzy (Anika Noni Rose) and her son George (Regé-Jean Page), product from a rape by her new owner, Tom Lea (Jonathan Rhys Myers). As much as George tried to gain Tom’s approval and love, in the end Tom sold him for a debt, and George was ripped away from his wife, babies, and mother.

Spoilers below.

Roots
Night 3
Directed by Thomas Carter
Written by Charles Murray
Based on the novel by Alex Haley
Starring Laurence Fishburne, Regé-Jean Page, Chad L. Coleman, Shannon Lucio, Anika Noni Rose, Jonathan Rhys Meyers, Michael James Shaw, and Malachi Kirby
The History Channel | A&E | Lifetime
Air Date: Wednesday, June 1st, 2016, 9:00pm

Last night on Roots, time passed and Kunta Kinte (Malachi Kirby) still dreamed of running away. He almost made it too, joining the British against the rebels for his freedom. That didn’t work out well, and soon he was back at the Wallers minus 5 toes. Doc Waller (Matthew Goode) took him in, and the beautiful Belle (Emayatzy Corinealdi) nursed him back to health. They married and had Kizzy (E’myri Lee Crutchfield), and Fiddler (Forest Whitaker) died saved their lives. Kizzy grew up friends with the Wallers’ daughter Missy, as much as a slave and an owner’s daughter can be friends. After the boy Kizzy loved was shot to death, she was sent away because it was found out she could read (and betrayed by her “friend” Missy). She was brought to Tom Lea’s (Jonathan Rhys Myers) farm, and he raped her. She had his baby and named him George the Mandinka way.

Spoilers below.

Roots
Night 2
Directed by Mario Van Peebles
Teleplay by Alison McDonald
Based on the novel by Alex Haley
Starring Laurence Fishburne, James Purefoy, Matthew Goode, E’myri Lee Crutchfield, Forest Whitaker, Emayatzy Corinealdi, Mandela Van Peebles, and Malachi Kirby
The History Channel | A&E | Lifetime
Air Date: Tuesday, May 31st, 2016, 9:00pm

Last night on Roots, Mandinka warrior Kunta Kinte (Malachi Kirby), had a beautiful life, until he got caught and sold to the English by a rival tribe. He was thrown into the bowels of a slave ship traveling to America. They were chained and lined up like sardines, and when they tried to take over the ship, it got bloody. The English won, and some slaves were beheaded, included Kunta’s Uncle Silla. Kunta was sold to a plantation owner, Waller (James Purefoy) with a cruel overseer (Tony Curran). Another slave, Fiddler (Forest Whitaker) befriended Kunta, caring for him when he got viciously whipped.

Spoilers below.

Roots
Night 1
Directed by Phillip Noyce
Teleplay by Lawrence Konner and Marc Rosenthal
Based on the novel by Alex Haley
Starring Laurence Fishburne, James Purefoy, Matthew Goode, Anika Noni Rose, Forest Whitaker, and Malachi Kirby
The History Channel | A&E | Lifetime
Air Date: Monday, May 30th, 2016, 9:00pm

Roots, the 1977 miniseries based on Alex Haley’s 1976 novel, turned America upside down with its powerful story of warrior and slave, Kunta Kinte, and his descendants. With Levar Burton and then John Amos as Kunta Kinte/Toby, Roots made television history with unprecedented ratings and tons of Emmy nominations. A+E Networks brings Roots back tonight, in a reimagined series simulcast on three of its networks, The History Channel, A&E, and Lifetime. With Malachi Kirby in the lead role, it’s starting out as powerful as the first.

Spoilers for Roots: Night 1 below.

Lawrence Fishburne has been cast in the small but pivotal role of Alex Haley (originally played by James Earl Jones), in Roots, the remake scheduled to be simulcast on A&E, Lifetime, and The History Channel. Haley, is the author of Roots: The Saga of an American Family, the basis for the miniseries, along with historical research.

Check out the press release below.