- The new show The Underground Railroad, directed by Barry Jenkins, premieres on Amazon Prime May 14. It stars Thuso Mbedu, Chase W. Dillon and Joel Edgerton.
Who were the main characters in the Underground Railroad?
The Underground Railroad Characters
- Cora (aka Bessie) Cora is the heroine of The Underground Railroad.
- Caesar. Caesar is an enslaved man who lives on Randall and invites Cora to run away with him.
- Ajarry. Ajarry is Cora’s grandmother and Mabel’s mother.
- Mabel.
- Lovey.
- Terrance Randall.
- James Randall.
- Old Randall.
Who was the main person in the Underground Railroad?
HARRIET TUBMAN – The Best-Known Figure in UGR History Harriet Tubman is perhaps the best-known figure related to the underground railroad. She made by some accounts 19 or more rescue trips to the south and helped more than 300 people escape slavery.
Is the movie Underground Railroad a true story?
Adapted from Colson Whitehead’s Pulitzer-award-winning novel, The Underground Railroad is based on harrowing true events. The ten-parter tells the story of escaped slave, Cora, who grew up on The Randall plantation in Georgia.
How old is the little boy in the Underground Railroad?
There are cruel plantation owners, haunted slave catchers, and bigoted religious zealots making Cora’s (Thuso Mbedu) path to freedom fraught with horror and anguish, but perhaps the most terrifying person standing in the way of Cora’s freedom throughout the series is a 10-year old boy named Homer. Chase W.
Who plays Jasper Underground Railroad?
The Underground Railroad (TV Series 2021– ) – Calvin Leon Smith as Jasper – IMDb.
Who is John Valentine in the Underground Railroad?
John is the owner of Valentine farm and the husband of Gloria. He is light-skinned and passes for white, although he does not hide the fact that he is black among other black people.
Does the Underground Railroad still exist?
It includes four buildings, two of which were used by Harriet Tubman. Ashtabula County had over thirty known Underground Railroad stations, or safehouses, and many more conductors. Nearly two-thirds of those sites still stand today.
What did Frederick Douglass do?
Frederick Douglass was an escaped slave who became a prominent activist, author and public speaker. He became a leader in the abolitionist movement, which sought to end the practice of slavery, before and during the Civil War.
Did Frederick Douglass help with the Underground Railroad?
The famous abolitionist, writer, lecturer, statesman, and Underground Railroad conductor Frederick Douglass (1817–1895) resided in this house from 1877 until his death. He was a leader of Rochester’s Underground Railroad movement and became the editor and publisher of the North Star, an abolitionist newspaper.
Were there tunnels in the Underground Railroad?
Contrary to popular belief, the Underground Railroad was not a series of underground tunnels. While some people did have secret rooms in their houses or carriages, the vast majority of the Underground Railroad involved people secretly helping people running away from slavery however they could.
What happened to Lovey in the Underground Railroad?
She secretly decides to join Cora and Caesar’s escape mission but she is captured early in the journey by hog hunters who return her to Randall, where she is killed by being impaled by a metal spike, her body left on display to discourage others who think of trying to escape.
Is there a season 2 of Underground railroad?
The Underground Railroad Season 2 won’t come in 2021 Whether the series is renewed or not, we’ve got some bad news when it comes to the release date. The Underground Railroad Season 2 won’t come in 2021.
How old is Chase Dillon Homer?
Oscar-winning writer and director Barry Jenkins adapted the series from Colson Whitehead’s Pulitzer Prize-winning novel of the same name and has said of all of the portrayals in his drama, Homer, masterfully played by 11-year-old actor Chase Dillon, scared him the most because the child worked against his own best
Who killed Boseman in the Underground Railroad?
Boseman is fatally shot by Royal after being caught attempting to rape Cora. Get the entire The Underground Railroad LitChart as a printable PDF.
Is Caesar really dead in the Underground Railroad?
While the show doesn’t show us what happens after their encounter, Caesar comes to Cora in a dream later, confirming to viewers that he was killed. In the novel, Caesar faces a similar fate of being killed following his capture, though instead of Ridgeway and Homer, he is killed by an angry mob.
Here’s What ‘The Underground Railroad’ Cast Looks Like in Real Life
Cora Randall is played by Thuso Mbedu. The role of Cora Randall is played by newcomer Mbedu, who portrays a young lady longing for freedom in the antebellum South. T C recently spoke with Whitehead, who revealed that when he writes his works, he does not truly see what the characters would look like. According to him, “the unfortunate part is that I can see everything but faces and bodies.” For me, it’s rather surreal to meet Cora for the first time.” Ridgeway is played by Joel Edgarton, who has previously appeared in The Great Gatsby (2013) and Red Sparrow (2018), among other films, as the Australian actor and director.
Ridgeway’s tale in the series, according to author Whitehead, differs slightly from the story in the novel.
“Ridgeway’s childhood is remade in a manner that makes it work.” “It wasn’t in my thoughts, and the seeds are barely visible on the paper, but.” Jenkins, on the other hand, was not convinced.
“That doesn’t seem to be the case!
- Caesar is played by Aaron Pierre.
- In Cora’s story, Pierre’s character is the first person she falls in love with, and he is also the one who inspires her to flee the plantation.
- Jenkins messaged Pierre on Twitter after the performance, inviting him to come in for an audition.
- Atim is a British actress, singer, composer, and writer who was nominated for the Laurence Olivier Award for Best Supporting Actress in a Musical in 2018.
- She portrays Cora’s mother, Mabel, in this television series.
- He said to T C, “In the end, I recall finally learning about Mabel’s life and realizing that Cora had gone on this trip, propelled by this aversion and hurt.
- And I thought to myself, ‘Holy sh*t, this is me.’ It was at that point that everything simply clicked.” Royalty in the person of William Jackson Harper Harper is most recognized for his role as Chidi Anagonye on the blockbuster television program, The Good Place, which he co-starred in.
Although the Underground Railroad is depicted as a figurative network in Whitehead’s book, it is actually a genuine railroad, complete with conductors and trains.
Gloria Valentine is played by Amber Gray.
Black actor Gray portrays Valentine, a farm community member who is a free and escaped Black person who is one of the community’s proprietors.
Martin Wells is played by Damon Herriman.
Herriman portrays Martin, the son of the previous operator of a decommissioned railroad station.
Ethel Wells is played by Lily Rabe.
Currently, she is portraying Ethel, Martin’s wife, in the play.
Sam is played by Will Poulter.
His second character, Sam, is a station agent for the Underground Railroad who also happens to manage a tavern in the state of South Carolina.
Chukwudi Iwuji has been named the winner of the MingoOlivier Award.
He was born in Nigeria and raised in the United Kingdom.
He purchased his and his family’s freedom, and he is concerned that harboring runaway slaves may enrage white neighbors in the area.
The actor Hechinger is a relative novice, but he has acted in the films News of the World and Human Capital in the past.
This component of the series, according to Whitehead, is distinct from the book in terms of plot.
A news journalist for TownCountry, Annie Goldsmith is a cultural and political reporter who focuses on the British royal family as well as politics and fashion.
This material was generated and maintained by a third party and imported onto this website in order to assist users in providing their email addresses for further consideration. You may be able to discover further information on this and other related items at the website piano.io.
The Underground Railroad (TV Series 2021– )
| Anthony Accetta | . | set production assistant (10 episodes, 2021) |
| Marize Alphonso | . | Production Legal Counsel (10 episodes, 2021) |
| Rabner Amill | . | production assistant (10 episodes, 2021) |
| Aaron Becker | . | title designer (10 episodes, 2021) |
| Lana Bowen | . | Certified Animal Safety Representative (10 episodes, 2021) |
| Slater Brauns | . | Controller (10 episodes, 2021) |
| Michael Anthony Brown | . | set production assistant (10 episodes, 2021) |
| Taylor Bruyette | . | Production Legal Counsel (10 episodes, 2021) |
| Joseph G. Bucci | . | Office Production Assistant (10 episodes, 2021) |
| Nick Buck | . | location assistant (10 episodes, 2021) |
| Brandon Calhoun | . | Payroll Accounant (10 episodes, 2021) |
| Jeremy N. Caves | . | payroll accountant (10 episodes, 2021) |
| Emily Croke | . | assistant production office coordinator (10 episodes, 2021) |
| Aliyah Curry | . | Assistant to Producers (10 episodes, 2021) |
| Tim Dobbs | . | medic (10 episodes, 2021) |
| Merilee Durgan | . | travel secretary (10 episodes, 2021) |
| Louise Farkas | . | post production accountant (10 episodes, 2021) |
| Cole Fletcher | . | production assistant (10 episodes, 2021) |
| Drew Funk | . | production assistant (10 episodes, 2021) |
| Tehera Gant | . | covid compliance production assistant officer (10 episodes, 2021) |
| Nina Gilbert | . | Studio Teacher (10 episodes, 2021) |
| Denise Godoy | . | unit publicist (10 episodes, 2021) |
| Dominic Goodie | . | production security (10 episodes, 2021) |
| Maria Gregory | . | Travel PA (10 episodes, 2021) |
| Elizabeth Guiberteau | . | craft service (10 episodes, 2021) |
| Elizabeth Himelstein | . | Dialect Coach: Thuso Mbedu / dialect coach: Joel Edgerton/Thuso Mbedu (10 episodes, 2021) |
| Patrick Hodges | . | assistant production coordinator (10 episodes, 2021) |
| Max Koval | . | Accounting Clerk (10 episodes, 2021) |
| Susan Kridler | . | researcher (10 episodes, 2021) |
| Joselyn Lamas | . | production secretary (10 episodes, 2021) |
| Bryson Lima | . | assistant to producers (10 episodes, 2021) |
| Terrance Mason | . | Medic (10 episodes, 2021) |
| Arianna Mattson | . | 2nd assistant accountant (10 episodes, 2021) |
| Mark Meloccaro | . | clearance supervisor (10 episodes, 2021) |
| Troy James Miller | . | titles producer: Filmograph (10 episodes, 2021) |
| Mallory O’Cain | . | 2nd Assistant Accountant (10 episodes, 2021) |
| Sandra Orszaghova | . | 2nd assistant accountant / 2nd Assistant Accountant (10 episodes, 2021) |
| Leah Parrish | . | craft service (10 episodes, 2021) |
| Pamela Morgan Pena | . | second assistant accountant (10 episodes, 2021) |
| Kristina Lee Reiersgard | . | dialogue coach (10 episodes, 2021) |
| Mohammad Sabre | . | Key Medic (10 episodes, 2021) |
| Mercedes Sanders | . | Stand in (10 episodes, 2021) |
| Scott Schreiber | . | 2nd assistant accountant (10 episodes, 2021) |
| Marcus Shamburger | . | Key Set Production Assistant: Atlanta Unit (10 episodes, 2021) |
| Christopher Bain Simmons | . | office production assistant (10 episodes, 2021) |
| Sue Smith | . | production coordinator (10 episodes, 2021) |
| Tyler Smith | . | additional production coordinator (10 episodes, 2021) |
| Tate Sonnack | . | epk production manager (10 episodes, 2021) |
| Shari Sontag | . | production accountant (10 episodes, 2021) |
| Taja Sparks | . | Accounting Clerk (10 episodes, 2021) |
| Alphonse Swinehart | . | title design (10 episodes, 2021) |
| Michael Wayne Thomas | . | standin (10 episodes, 2021) |
| Bill Waxler | . | Propmaker (10 episodes, 2021) |
| Peyton Crosby | . | production assistant (9 episodes, 2021) |
| Felisha Renae Whitehead | . | assistant travel coordinator: APOC (9 episodes, 2021) |
| Bryan Meyers | . | key first assistant accountant (8 episodes, 2021) |
| Morgan Hayes | . | second assistant accountant / accounting clerk (7 episodes, 2021) |
| Juan Melendez | . | production assistant (6 episodes, 2021) |
| Juan Carlos Melendez | . | PA Office (6 episodes, 2021) |
| LaQuanda Plantt | . | Travel Assistant (6 episodes, 2021) |
| Nathan Wind | . | assistant payroll accountant (5 episodes, 2021) |
| Victoria Briggs | . | production assistant (4 episodes, 2021) |
| Kohli Calhoun | . | dialect coach: Chukwudi Iwuji (3 episodes, 2021) |
| Teniece Divya Johnson | . | Intimacy Coordinator (3 episodes, 2021) |
| Marley Mountcastle | . | covid testing coordinator (3 episodes, 2021) |
| Reid Pittman | . | production assistant (3 episodes, 2021) |
| Patrick Tennerson | . | production assistant (3 episodes, 2021) |
| Nisa Ward | . | additional voices (3 episodes, 2021) |
| Shemron O. Cowan | . | stand-in: Donald Watkins (2 episodes, 2021) |
| Grant Henley | . | stand-in: Utility (2 episodes, 2021) |
| Benjamin Plessala | . | ADR (2 episodes, 2021) |
| Cua-Cua Apey | . | Marine coordinator (1 episode, 2021) |
| Matthew Krueger | . | City of Savannah Film Coordinator (1 episode, 2021) |
| Samantha J. McDonald | . | covering intimacy coordinator (1 episode, 2021) |
| Matthew Romanski | . | production assistant (1 episode, 2021) |
| Adrienne Rush | . | writers assistant (1 episode, 2021) |
| Marcallus T. Sunday II | . | stand-in (1 episode, 2021) |
The Underground Railroad (miniseries) – Wikipedia
| The Underground Railroad | |
|---|---|
| Genre | Historical fiction |
| Created by | Barry Jenkins |
| Based on | The Underground RailroadbyColson Whitehead |
| Directed by | Barry Jenkins |
| Starring |
- Thuso Mbedu, Chase W. Dillon, Joel Edgerton, Fred Hechinger, Peter Mullan, Mychal-Bella Bowman, and Sheila Atim are among those who have contributed to this work.
| Composer | Nicholas Britell |
|---|---|
| Country of origin | United States |
| Original language | English |
| No.of episodes | 10 |
| Production | |
| Executive producers |
- Barry Jenkins, Adele Romanski, Brad Pitt, Dede Gardner, and Jeremy Kleiner are among the actors that have appeared in the film.
| Cinematography | James Laxton |
|---|---|
| Running time | 20–77 minutes |
| Production companies |
- Plan B Entertainment, Pastel Productions, Big Indie Pictures, and Amazon Studios are among the companies involved.
| Release | |
|---|---|
| Original network | Amazon Prime Video |
| Original release | May 14, 2021 |
| External links | |
| Website |
According to Wikipedia, The Underground Railroadis a 2016 novel by Colson Whitehead that is based on a streaming television limited series developed and directed byBarry Jenkins and based on a streaming television limited series created and directed byBarry Jenkins. The series aired on Amazon Prime Video on May 14, 2021, with the first episode airing on May 14, 2021.
Premise
A fictional narrative about persons seeking to emigrate from slavery in the southern United States during the 1800s, with a crucial plot aspect that exploits the literary style of magic realism as its foundation. Actually, “The Underground Railroad” was a network of Abolitionists, secret passageways, and safe homes that assisted enslaved African-Americans in escaping to freedom from slavery during the early to mid-1800s period. The railroad depicted in the novel and series is a real one, replete with engineers, conductors, tracks, and tunnels, as well as passengers.
Cast
- In addition to Thuso Mbedu as Cora Randall, the cast includes Chase W. Dillon as Homer, Ridgeway’s helper
- Joel Edgerton as Arnold Ridgeway, a slave catcher
- Fred Hechingeras Young Arnold Ridgeway
- Peter Mullanas Ridgeway Senior, Arnold Ridgeway’s father
- And Peter Mullanas Ridgeway Junior. Fanny Briggs/Grace is played by Mychal-Bella Bowman, while Mabel is played by Sheila Atimas.
Recurring
- In addition to Thuso Mbedu as Cora Randall, the cast includes Chase W. Dillon as Homer, Ridgeway’s helper
- Joel Edgerton as Arnold Ridgeway, a slave catcher
- Fred Hechingeras Young Arnold Ridgeway
- Peter Mullanas Ridgeway Senior, Arnold Ridgeway’s father
- And a number of other actors. Mabel is played by Sheila Atimas, with Mychal-Bella Bowman as Fanny Briggs/Grace.
Episodes
A limited series adaptation of Colson Whitehead’s novel The Underground Railroad was announced on September 16, 2016, with Barry Jenkins serving as the executive producer. Jenkins was slated to co-produce the series with Adele Romanski, according to reports. Plan B Entertainment was among the production groups who were expected to be involved in the series. On March 27, 2017, it was revealed that Amazon Video has granted the production a commitment to develop the screenplay into a television series.
In June of this year, composer Nicholas Britella stated that he will be working on the series.
Casting
Thomso Mbedu, Chase W. Dillon, Aaron Pierre, and Joel Edgerton were all cast members of the series in April of this year. In August of this year, the series welcomed two new cast members: Damon Herriman and William Jackson Harper, who will appear in recurring roles. A recurring character was added to the series’ roster in September 2019 when Lucius Baston joined the ensemble cast. Amber Gray joined the cast of the series as a recurring character in October of this year. In November of this year, Jim Klock joined the cast of the show in a recurring role as a writer.
The casting of Fred Hechinger and the rest of the ensemble was revealed in February 2020.
Filming
Filming began in August 2019 in Savannah, Georgia, and it was completed on September 22, 2020, after a total of 116 days on the set of the film.
Release
In August 2019, filming began on the set in Savannah, Georgia, and continued for 116 days before wrapping up on September 22, 2020, according to the production schedule.
Reception
According to review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes, the film had a 94 percent approval rating based on 90 critic reviews, with an average rating of 8.78/10. It is said on The Underground Railroad’s official website that the reviewers’ opinion is that “with a terrific cast and Barry Jenkins’ distinctive eye, The Underground Railroaddelicatelytranslates its source material into a deeply humanistic series that is both challenging and vital.” Meticulous evaluations from 35 critics resulted in a weighted average score of 92 out of 100 for the series, signifying “universal acclaim,” according to Metacritic.
Alan Sepinwall, writing a review for Rolling Stone, awarded the series a grade of 4/5 and described the series as follows: “unfinished interpretation of a terrible and expansive topic Nonetheless, the film’s emotional highs and lows are more intense than anything else you’re going to see on television this year, and the pictures are both more beautiful and terrifying.” “Jenkins has collected an excellent ensemble, including William Jackson Harper as Cora’s love interest, Royal, and Lily Rabe, who chills the screen as Ethel, the wife of a North Carolina abolitionist (Damon Herriman),” said Stephen Robinson of The A.V.
Club in his review of the series.
Accolades
| Year | Award | Category | Nominee(s) | Result | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | Black Reel Awards | Outstanding TV Movie or Limited Series | Barry Jenkins | Nominated | |
| Outstanding Directing, TV Movie/Limited Series | Nominated | ||||
| Outstanding Writing, TV Movie/Limited Series | Nominated | ||||
| Outstanding Actress, TV Movie/Limited Series | Thuso Mbedu | Nominated | |||
| Outstanding Supporting Actor, TV Movie/Limited Series | William Jackson Harper | Nominated | |||
| Gotham Awards | Breakthrough Series – Long Format | The Underground Railroad | Nominated | ||
| Outstanding Performance in a New Series | Thuso Mbedu | Won | |||
| Hollywood Critics Association TV Awards | Best Streaming Limited Series, Anthology Series, or Live-Action Television Movie | The Underground Railroad | Nominated | ||
| Best Actor in a Limited Series, Anthology Series, or Television Movie | Joel Edgerton | Nominated | |||
| Best Actress in a Limited Series, Anthology Series, or Television Movie | Thuso Mbedu | Nominated | |||
| Best Supporting Actor in a Limited Series, Anthology Series, or Television Movie | William Jackson Harper | Nominated | |||
| Primetime Emmy Awards | Outstanding Limited or Anthology Series | Barry Jenkins,Adele Romanski, Mark Ceryak,Brad Pitt,Dede Gardner,Jeremy Kleiner,Colson Whitehead, Richard Heus, Jacqueline Hoyt and Richleigh Heagh | Nominated | ||
| Outstanding Directing for a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie | Barry Jenkins | Nominated | |||
| Primetime Creative Arts Emmy Awards | Outstanding Casting for a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie | Francine Maisler and Meagan Lewis | Nominated | ||
| Outstanding Cinematography for a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie | James Laxton(for “Chapter 9: Indiana Winter”) | Nominated | |||
| Outstanding Music Composition for a Limited or Anthology Series, Movie, or Special (Original Dramatic Score) | Nicholas Britell(for “Chapter 2: South Carolina”) | Nominated | |||
| Outstanding Sound Editing for a Limited or Anthology Series, Movie, or Special | Onnalee Blank, Chris Kahwaty, Katy Wood, Bryan Parker, Jay Jennings, Harry Cohen, Luke Gibleon, Pietu Korhonen, John Finklea and Heikki Kossi(for “Chapter 9: Indiana Winter”) | Nominated | |||
| Outstanding Sound Mixing for a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie | Onnalee Blank, Mathew Waters, Joe White and Kari Vähäkuopus(for “Chapter 1: Georgia”) | Nominated | |||
| Television Critics Association Awards | Program of the Year | The Underground Railroad | Nominated | ||
| Outstanding Achievement in Movies, Miniseries and Specials | Nominated | ||||
| Individual Achievement in Drama | Thuso Mbedu | Nominated | |||
| 2022 | Critics’ Choice Television Awards | Best Limited Series | The Underground Railroad | Pending | |
| Best Actress in a Movie/Miniseries | Thuso Mbedu | Pending | |||
| Best Supporting Actor in a Movie/Miniseries | William Jackson Harper | Pending | |||
| Golden Globe Awards | Best Miniseries or Television Film | The Underground Railroad | Pending | ||
| Independent Spirit Awards | Best New Scripted Series | The Underground Railroad | Pending | ||
| Best Female Performance in a New Scripted Series | Thuso Mbedu | Pending |
See also
- Underground (television series)
- A list of films that contain scenes of enslavement
References
- A list of films that include slavery
- The Underground (a television series)
Notes
- Underground (television series)
- A list of films that include slavery
External links
- Official website
- The Underground RailroadatIMDb
- The Underground RailroadatRotten Tomatoes
- The Underground
Meet the Cast of Amazon Prime Video’s ‘The Underground Railroad’
“The Underground Railroad,” a lavish 10-episode Amazon Prime Video series set in pre-Civil War America and directed by Academy Award-winning filmmaker Barry Jenkins, is propelled forward by the collective heartbeat of the cast. Jenkins had a fantasy as a child about an underground railway system that would transport enslaved people to freedom. In his own words, “this entire big-ass event sort of grew out of me just trying to actualize this boyhood fantasy of mine of Black people making trains that travel underground.” Jenkins’ adaptation of the Pulitzer Prize-winning novel is a sprawling, lavishly shot epic that rivals the grandeur of classic Hollywood films in its scope and scope of photography.
- Cora’s trip is enhanced by the usage of magical realism, which is depicted in the film.
- In the course of the series, as Cora travels from state to state, episode by episode, the visual and audio aesthetics alter to reflect her changing states of mind.
- Mbedu, who lost her own mother when she was four years old, feels she and Cora have a lot in common.
- “There were times in my life when it was painful to hope, and it was preferable to have no hope than to have false hope.” “I believe that is one of Cora’s motivating factors.” Cora is a mix of naivete and tempered by experience.
- Caesar is played by Aaron Pierre.
- While promised manumission in Virginia, Cora finds herself sold to a plantation in Georgia.
- A true friendship, Pierre claims, was formed between him and Mbedu, which can be seen in the on-screen interaction between Caesar and Cora.
Cora is listening to him read from “Gulliver’s Travels,” which foreshadows the experiences she will have in the future.
Using such pictures, he explains, allows viewers to interact in a visceral sense.
The Frenchman believes that “we still have a very long way to go in terms of empathy, understanding, and unification.” Ridgeway is played by Joel Edgerton.
Ridgeway is preoccupied with apprehending Cora because her mother has managed to avoid him for so long.
“He feels abandoned by his own father, and he sees a reflection of himself in her.” “Complicated, harsh, and misunderstood,” Edgerton characterizes his character as being in the film.
As a result, according to the actor, he became the polar opposite of his father.
“He’s a villain,” says the narrator.
According to Edgerton, “I always think tales are more intriguing if we understand where the evil guys are coming from.” Getting the audience to understand what makes someone like Ridgeway tick is the main goal, says the director.
Homer, Ridgeway’s surrogate son and sidekick, is played by Chase Dillon, who gives a charming and precocious portrayal.
His job description is to catch other Black people, and he’s extraordinarily adept at what he does.
Dillon says he wanted to be a part of “The Underground Railroad” because of the significance of the event.
After reading the screenplay, Dillon claims he told his mother, “I sense God in this,” according to Dillon.
As Jenkins explains, “when you call ‘cut’ Chase will dance, he will smile—almost it’s like he’s going to figure out some way to tell everyone that, ‘Hey—this is just a game,” he adds.
Co-star Mbedu admits that she had to create some space between herself and Dillon, with whom she had grown close, for the purpose of their characters on the set of “The Walking Dead.” “Barry informed us that we were not permitted to embrace,” Mbedu recalls.
The indoctrination, grooming, and internalization of self-hatred are all discussed in detail by Jenkins in his book, “The Character.” Chase Dillon appears, and somehow, whether it’s via the spirit or excellent parenting or whatever the heck it is, he serves as a channel for us to investigate it.” Royalty in the person of William Jackson Harper Royal is considered to be ahead of his time since he is a free-born Black man who rescues Cora at one point during her voyage, according to William Jackson Harper, who plays the character.
- “Royal’s mentality is quite contemporary,” he continues.
- As Harper points out, “there is a significant gap between their two experiences.” Cora sees him as a total paradigm change, a symbol of the possibilities that come with living a life free of restrictions.
- Even though she finds happiness there, Harper adds that her life has been a sequence of things taken away from her, and she is impatiently awaiting the next shoe to drop, as she puts it.
- “I need to realize, as a Black guy, that we didn’t simply put up with things; we battled to make things better,” Harper says of his generation.
- Cora’s mother, played by Atim, has escaped and left her behind.
- Cora’s sentiments of abandonment and grief are exacerbated by her independence, as is Ridgeway’s wrath that she has managed to avoid him for so long.
- “They feel she has instilled in them the desire to flee,” says the narrator.
- However, despite having grown up in London, Atim credits her Ugandan heritage, namely “the sensation of dislocation and the notion that there is a home somewhere else in the globe,” with playing a big role in her creative process for this piece.
“It’s something we’re still dealing with,” she adds. The importance of revisiting these themes in new ways is underscored by the fact that they are always evolving.
optional screen reader
Earlier this month, Amazon Prime launched a 10-episode limited series adaption of The Underground Railroad, bringing the terrible story to life with a stellar ensemble of new and veteran names. In Colson Whitehead’s 2016 novelThe Underground Railroad, the metaphorical Underground Railroad moniker was given a real meaning in the story of a little girl’s journey for freedom as she flees plantations and enemies in the antebellum South during the Civil War. A television series adaption is being directed by Barry Jenkins, who is best known for directing the Best Picture-winning filmMoonlightin 2016 and highly praised picture If Beale Street Could Talk.
As she investigates, she discovers that the Underground Track was more than a metaphor; abolitionists and free Black people used a real train on a hidden railroad beneath Southern ground to lead enslaved individuals to liberty.
A confrontation with the Black experience in America as it has progressed from plantation and slave-owning white supremacy to institutional racism and the pain that white Americans continue to impose on Black Americans is the subject of the new series, which is not for the faint of heart.
The Underground Railroad, which comes from a Black filmmaker who has already made multiple films on the subject of the Black experience, will not be another white-narrative of Black sorrow in the vein of Tarantino’sDjango Unchained.
Thuso Mbedu as Cora Randall
This week, Amazon Prime debuted a 10-episode limited series adaption of the classic novel The Underground Railroad, bringing the terrible story to life with a stellar ensemble of new and famous names. During the course of Colson Whitehead’s 2016 novelThe Underground Railroad, a little girl’s journey for freedom as she flees plantations and enemies in the antebellum South brought the metaphorical Underground Railroad title to a concrete reality. The series adaption is directed by Barry Jenkins, who is best known for directing the Academy Award-winning filmMoonlightin 2016 and the critically acclaimed filmIf Beale Street Could Talkin 2018.
As she investigates, she discovers that the Underground Track was more than a metaphor; abolitionists and free Black people used an actual train on a hidden railroad beneath Southern ground to lead enslaved individuals to safety.
A confrontation with the Black experience in America as it has progressed from plantation and slave-owning white supremacy to institutional racism and the pain that white Americans continue to impose on Black Americans is the subject of the new series, which is not for the faint-hearted.
This will not be another white-narrative of Black sorrow, like Tarantino’sDjango Unchained, because the picture is directed by a Black filmmaker who has already made multiple films on the subject of the Black experience.
A large part of the series’ popularity may be attributed to Jenkins’ adapted script and direction, as well as to the powerful performances delivered by the actors.
Chase W. Dillon as Homer
Chase W. Dillion, a young actor who has appeared in films such as The First Wives Club(2019) and That Damn Michael Che, plays Homer Simpson. As a former slave who was set free by slave catcher Ridgeway, Homer is an odd young man who stays at his master’s side and appears unconcerned with his boss’s prejudice and brutal treatment of individuals from his race. Homer is a weird young man. Homer is often dressed in a suit and hat as he assists Ridgeway in the capture and transportation of runaway slaves on the run.
Aaron Pierre as Caesar
Caesar is brought in as a new slave at the Randall Plantation and joins Cora in her attempt to escape through the Underground Railroad. Caesar is the one who originally devises the plan for the duo’s escape. The previous master of Caesar, who taught him to read and write in addition to promising him a life of freedom, now seeks to regain the life of liberty that is properly his. Caesar is played by Aaron Pierre, who previously appeared as Dev-Em on the television seriesKrypton and Antonius on the television seriesBritannia.
Joel Edgerton as Ridgeway
Known as the “Slave Hunter,” Ridgeways is an infamous slave catcher in the Deep South who has become obsessed with catching Cora after failing to apprehend her runaway mother, Mabel, years ago. Mountain Ridgeway is a racist white supremacist who defends racial principles such as slavery and segregation, and his brutality is hated by everyone who comes into contact with him. Ridgeway is played by Joel Edgerton, a well-known Australian actor who has been in several blockbuster films over the previous two decades, including Owen Lars in the Star Wars prequels, Tom Buchanan in The Great Gatsby, and Falstaff in The King.
William Jackson Harper as Royal
A free Black man by birth, Royal toiled for the Underground Railroad in New York City until he was forced to leave for the free Black Valentine Farm in Indiana, where he died. During Cora’s escape from Ridgeway, Tennessee, Royal is one of the railroad officials who assists her, and the two begin a romantic relationship on the Valentine Farm. Royal is played by William Jackson Harper, who is most known for his roles as Chidi on The Good Place and Josh inMidsommar, among other things.
Damon Herriman as Martin Wells
Martin is an Underground Railroad agent in North Carolina, and he grudgingly conceals Cora in his attic after learning of her whereabouts. In the wake of his abolitionist father Donald’s death, he assumed the position of agent and now works with the Underground Railroad alongside his cautious wife Ethel. Because of his many depictions of serial killer and cult leader Charles Manson in Mindhunter and Once Upon a Time in Hollywood, Damon Herriman has become a recognized face in the entertainment industry.
Lily Rabe as Ethel Wells
American Horror Story: Freak Show Ethel, the wife of tired Underground Railroad operative Martin, is played by actress Lily Rabe in the film The Underground Railroad.
Even though she is afraid of being apprehended and murdered for supporting Cora, she becomes determined to assist her after nursing Cora back to health after she becomes ill.
Will Poulter as Sam
Will Poulter, who is well-known for his parts inBandersnatch, We’re The Millers, and The Maze Runner, appears in The Underground Railroad as the young abolitionist Sam, who is abolitionist in training. Cora and Caesar come face to face with Sam, who is working as an Underground Railroad agent in South Carolina.
Supporting Cast
Grace is played by Mychal-Bella Bowman. Grace is a young Black girl that the Wells have been keeping in their attic for quite some time, and she has become Cora’s roommate in the cramped quarters. Lucius Baston is shown as conceited. As Prideful, a Randall Plantation overseer slave (also known as a “driver,”) Lucius Baston, who has previously appeared in Lovecraft Country and Atlanta, reprises his role as the actor. Mabel is played by Sheila Atim. In addition to her theatrical work, Sheila Atim has appeared in several television shows, most notably in Netflix’s The Irregulars as The Tooth Fairy.
- Cora’s mother, Mabel, is thought to have abandoned her daughter after leaving the Randall Plantation without her.
- John and Gloria Valentine are played by Peter de Jersey and Amber Gray, respectively.
- While enslaved on a plantation, John came to know and eventually emancipated his wife Gloria, who was also light-skinned at the time.
- Peter de Jersey is most known for his long-running role in the television series The Billand.
- Terrence Randall is played by Benjamin Walker.
- Terrence has a fiery temper and collaborates with Ridgeway to liberate Cora and Caesar from their captors.
- Tom Hardman is played by Jim Klocka.
- James Randall is played by Justice Leak.
- Having inherited the northern portion of his father’s property, James is noted for being a more calm and collected individual than his brother.
- Following that, we’ll look at what Amazon Prime has changed from the original series.
- With a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology and a minor in Media Studies from the University of Oregon, she is set to graduate in 2020.
She survives on coffee and old films, and she takes great delight in having seen every film on the American Film Institute’s 100 Greatest Films list, as well as every Best Picture Oscar winner. Jordan Williams has more to say.
Filming ‘The Underground Railroad’ was grueling. But the cast grasped ‘the weight of what we were doing.’
In several instances, when main actress Thuso Mbedu stepped onto the set of “The Underground Railroad,” she was forced to brace herself for what she and her character, the enslaved Cora, and those she loved would be subjected to in the coming months. In the 10-part Amazon series “Cora,” which premieres Friday and is directed by Barry Jenkins and based on Colson Whitehead’s novel of the same name, the moral depravities of subjugation and slavery are contrasted with the humanity, ingenuity, and determination of enslaved people, as exemplified by Cora.
- Despite the fact that the program boasts intricate storytelling and great photography, Jenkins handled it with a deep well of compassion, which is maybe the most significant aspect of the show.
- Whitehead’s book was awarded the Pulitzer Prize in 2017, the same year that Barry Jenkins’ film “Moonlight” was nominated for an Academy Award for best picture.
- Cora is led from a Georgia plantation to the Underground Railroad by Caesar, an enslaved man who is played by Aaron Pierre.
- “Colson is a master genius, and Barry is a master genius, and when you put them together, it’s an eruption of genius.” “Colson and Barry are both master geniuses,” says Barry.
- Many of those worlds are eerily reminiscent of all-too-real events in American horror history, such as the government’s Tuskegee experiments or the 1921 Tulsa Race Massacre.
- It was necessary for Mbedu to employ techniques, such as strolling across the set with her eyes downcast, so that when she opened her eyes, she would be experiencing everything just as Cora, since else it would be too much for Thuso to handle.
- Her life and Cora’s, on the other hand, are clearly separated, with the actress depending on “a whole lot of study” to bring the character’s vocal, physical, and psychological journey to life on the screen.
(The Washington Post is owned by Jeff Bezos, the founder and CEO of Amazon.) “Underground Railroad” is a show that is brutal in its depiction of slavery, but it is ultimately more about the struggle for liberation in the face of insurmountable difficulties.
“The novel and the series commemorate the enormous amount of fortitude these individuals must have had to have in order to endure such catastrophic suffering,” says Pierre, who adds that even Caesar, who is subjected to horrible torture, achieves some kind of success.
In particular, he emphasizes the importance of “the ability for resilience” in the tale since “that is the experience of Black people in this nation,” he adds.
“There’s a lot to grasp and comprehend in these situations, and what was written was so tenderly presented,” Harper says of the performances.
As a result, even if Caesar’s emotions are strongly displayed on his face, he normally maintains a surprising level of physical calm.
“That’s what struck a chord with me.” In order to tell Cora’s story effectively, Jenkins added characters, rewrote key scenes, and delved deeply into her mother’s past, which she shares with Ridgeway (Joel Edgerton), the slave catcher who pursues Cora with a vengeance and Mabel (Sheila Atim), Cora’s mother, who had run away and vanished years earlier, leaving Ridgeway and Cora enraged for very different reasons, respectively.
Mabel, a midwife on the plantation, risks her own safety by infuriating those in authority when she speaks up and defends other women who require more humane treatment after childbirth, before she ultimately cracks and flees, leaving her little daughter in the care of strangers.
As Atim puts it, “Mabel embodies the internal conflict that so many individuals were going through.” “She was bringing life into that world and wanted to do it in a safe manner while also acknowledging that she is still perpetuating this system — of which she is a victim herself.
“When a disturbed individual finds themselves in a position of power, it is a hazardous mix,” Edgerton adds, highlighting the parallels to contemporary times.
Those activities have an impact on their life, but they also have an impact on the lives of everyone with whom they come into touch, and they inflict a great deal of harm to everyone else.” Jenkins developed or added connections with other characters for Cora, giving her a sense of camaraderie as well as a sense of duty.
In the aftermath of her mother’s abandonment, Cora had decided to keep everyone at arm’s length, but she has now realized and accepted that she does not have to go alone on her path, according to Mbedu, whose work on Jenkins further increased the feeling of Black community responsibility.
According to Mbedu, “This is a lesson for me that I am physically analyzing and talking myself through on a daily basis.” “This narrative provides us with a peek of what you might be able to achieve as you forge your path forward,” says the author.