Oscar nominee Sterling K. Brown (Paradise, American Fiction) is among the cast and executive producers of Washington Black, a sweeping new series set to premiere this July on Hulu and Disney+. The official trailer is here, teasing a mix of historical drama, scientific curiosity, and a whimsical journey of self-discovery stretching across continents. Trailer above and more info below.
Adapted from Esi Edugyan’s acclaimed novel, the series introduces George Washington “Wash” Black, an eleven-year-old boy born into slavery on a Barbados sugar plantation. When a violent incident threatens his life, Wash, portrayed by Eddie Karanja (The Sandman) and later by Ernest Kingsley Jr. (War of the Worlds series), escapes with the help of Titch Wilde (Tom Ellis, Lucifer), an eccentric explorer with a scientific mind and a flying airship called The Cloud Cutter.
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Wash’s odyssey takes him from the Caribbean to the icy shores of Nova Scotia, where he meets Medwin Harris (Sterling K. Brown), a community leader who offers protection — and eventually finds himself changed by the boy he’s helping. “Through his relationship with this young man, he learns that being safe and being free aren’t necessarily the same thing,” Brown told USA Today. “And while he tries to teach Wash what is necessary to survive, Wash winds up showing him what it means to truly live.”
The series also stars Iola Evans as Wash’s love interest, Tanna Goff, as well as Rupert Graves, Edward Bluemel, and Sharon Duncan-Brewster. Selwyn Seyfu Hinds (a writer on Paramount+’s The Twilight Zone series) serves as creator and co-showrunner alongside Kimberly Ann Harrison, with Brown also executive producing. Edugyan is on board as a co-producer.
There’s adventure, drama, romance, danger, and levity on display — tones that Brown says are often missing in similar stories. “It’s full of whimsical elements,” he explained. “As I often say to my friends, ‘Black folks like whimsy, too!’”
Brown called the show “an epic coming-of-age tale full of magic and possibility,” highlighting its universal themes. “Everyone grows up, everyone seeks out love and community, and if we are blessed enough, everyone wants to live the life of their dreams.”
Washington Black premieres July 23. All eight episodes will be available to stream on Hulu in the U.S. and on Disney+ in Australia and internationally.
