Laurence Fishburne is set to star as Alex Haley on A&E’s “Roots” remake.
Haley is the author of the novel “Roots: The Saga of an American Family,” which was an origin story based on the life of Kunta Kinte. The new version of the miniseries will incorporate material from both Haley’s book and newly researched scholarship of the time.
As previously reported, the star of the original “Roots,” LeVar Burton, will serve as executive producer on the new event series. Will Packer (“Ride Along,” “Think Like a Man”) executive produces alongside Mark Wolper, whose Wolper Organization produced the original 1977 ABC miniseries.
Lawrence Konner (“Boardwalk Empire,” “The Sopranos,”), Mark Rosenthal (“Mona Lisa Smile,” “Planet of the Apes”), Alison McDonald (“Alpha House,” “Nurse Jackie”) and Charles Murray (“Sons of Anarchy”) serve as writers. Allen Hughes was originally attached as director, but had to pull out due to scheduling conflicts.
Fishburne is a Tony Award winner, an Emmy Award winner, a Golden Globe nominee and an Academy Award nominee. The actor recently appeared on “Hannibal” and “CSI: Crime Scene Investigation.”
“The Matrix” star currently plays Pops on ABC’s hit comedy “Black-ish,” which he also executive produces.
Fishburne can next be seen in Warner Bros. film “Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice.”