HISTORY'S EPIC EVENT SERIES 'ROOTS' SET TO PREMIERE THIS MAY ON THE SAME DAY AS THE U.S.

PHILIPPINES – March 21, 2016 – HISTORY premieres “Roots” on 31 May 2016, airing over four consecutive nights at 9pm (PH).  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”); Golden Globe Award winning and Emmy Award nominated actor Jonathan Rhys Meyers (“Tom Lea”); Tony Award winner Anika Noni Rose (“Kizzy”); Grammy Award winner Tip “T.I.” Harris(“Cyrus”); Chad L. Coleman (“Mingo”); EmayatzyCorinealdi (“Belle”); Matthew Goode (“Dr. William Waller”); Derek Luke (“Silla Ba Dibba”); MekhiPhifer (“Jerusalem”); James Purefoy (“John Waller”); Erica Tazel (“Matilda”) and introduces Regé-Jean Page (“Chicken George”) and Malachi Kirby (“KuntaKinte”).

 

“’Roots’ will allow new audiences to experience this epic family saga with a new vision that is both inspiring and tremendously entertaining, we are proud that HISTORY will be able to bring new life to this powerful story that remains as important today as it did when the original ‘Roots’ first premiered.” ~said Paul Buccieri, President of A&E and HISTORY. 

 

“Nearly 40 years ago I had the privilege to be a part of an epic television event that started an important conversation in America, I am incredibly proud to be a part of this new retelling and start the dialogue again, at a time when it is needed more than ever." ~said LeVar Burton, Co-Executive Producer.

 

“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 Jossenserve as executive producers.LeVar Burton and Korin D. Huggins are co-executive producers. Questlove is executive music producer. “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.”

 

HISTOR is available on SKYCable Ch 67; Cable Link Ch. 43; Dream Satellite Ch 30; Destiny Cable Ch 57; and Cignal Ch 125.

 

About HISTORY & HISTORY HD

HISTORY and HISTORY HD are the leading destinations for entertaining hit series and revealing, award-winning event specials that connect history with viewers in an informative, immersive and fascinating manner across multiple platforms. Programming covers a diverse variety of genres ranging from real-life characters who bring history to life every day, to natural history, contemporary history, technology and science, as well as archaeology and pop culture. Hit series include Kings of Restoration, Pawn Stars, The Vikings, Ancient Aliens, Duck Dynasty, Counting Cars, Hidden Cities Extreme and Ride N’ Seek. For more information, please visit:

 

Homepage: www.historyasia.com

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About A+E Studios

A+E Studios is the studio unit of the award-winning global media company A+E Networks, LLC. A+E Studios creates, produces and distributes high quality scripted programming across all networks and platforms in the A+E Networks portfolio, including A&E Network, Lifetime, History, LMN, FYI™, H2 and A&E IndieFilms. A+E Studios’ slate of programming consists of scripted series, event series and movies, including the upcoming event miniseries Roots for HISTORY, A&E and Lifetime, Unreal for Lifetime and Sons of Liberty and Houdini for HISTORY.