‘Underground’ EP John Legend to Play Frederick Douglass in Season 2

Grammy and Oscar winner will play famed abolitionist in WGN America series

John Legend Underground

John Legend is going “Underground.”

The executive producer on the WGN America Underground Railroad series has been cast in Season 2 in the guest starring role of Frederick Douglass, the famous abolitionist, author and orator.

Born into slavery, Douglass escaped bondage and settled in the North. He went on to become one of the most revolutionary leaders of the nineteenth century. A prominent writer, celebrated speaker and progressive political reformist, Douglass led the charge to wipe out slavery in America once and for all.

Frederick Douglass is among a growing list of historical figures featured in the series. Aisha Hinds is stepping into a recurring guest star role as Harriet Tubman. Season 2 will also include renowned African American abolitionist William Still (Chris Chalk) and notorious slave trader Patty Cannon (Sadie Stratton), which TheWrap reported exclusively.

Legend is a Grammy and Oscar winner who has recently made the foray into producing.  He will produce and star in the upcoming feature film “La La Land,” and he recently executive produced the feature, “Southside with You.” He is also developing a series about “Black Wall Street” at WGN America.

Jurnee Smollett-Bell, Aldis Hodge, Christopher Meloni, Alano Miller and ‎Jessica de Gouw will all reprise their Season 1 roles. Marc Blucas will guest star as John Hawkes. In addition, Amirah Vann, whose plays slave matriarch Ernestine, will be a series regular in Season 2. She had a recurring role in Season 1, where her character’s fate at the auction block left viewers in suspense.

“Underground” was created and written by Misha Green and Joe Pokaski, who serve as executive producers alongside Emmy-nominated director Anthony Hemingway; Academy Award-winning writer Akiva Goldsman of Weed Road Pictures; Tory Tunnell and Joby Harold of Safehouse Pictures; and Legend, Mike Jackson and Ty Stiklorius of Get Lifted Film Co; and Mark Taylor.

“Underground” Season 2 is scheduled to premiere in March 2017.

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