WGN to Debut ‘Underground’ March 9

WGN America will launch its freshman drama series Underground  on March 9, the network said Monday.

The series, which follows the lives of slaves as they plot their escape to freedom, Jurnee Smollett-Bell (True Blood), Aldis Hodge (Straight Outta Compton), Christopher Meloni (Sin City: A Dame to Kill For), Alano Miller (Jane The Virgin), Jessica de Gouw (Arrow), Marc Blucas (Buffy the Vampire Slayer), Adina Porter (The 100), Mykelti Williamson (Justified), Amirah Vann (Girls), Johnny Ray Gill (Rectify), Chris Chalk (Gotham), Reed Diamond (Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.), Theodus Crane (The Walking Dead), Renwick Scott (Treme) and Jussie Smollett (Empire).

Underground is executively produced by John Legend as well as series creator Misha Green (Sons Of Anarchy), Joe Pokaski (Daredevil), Akiva Goldsman (A Beautiful Mind), Joby Harold (King Arthur) and Tory Tunnell (King Arthur).  

R. Thomas Umstead

R. Thomas Umstead serves as senior content producer, programming for Multichannel News, Broadcasting + Cable and Next TV. During his more than 30-year career as a print and online journalist, Umstead has written articles on a variety of subjects ranging from TV technology, marketing and sports production to content distribution and development. He has provided expert commentary on television issues and trends for such TV, print, radio and streaming outlets as Fox News, CNBC, the Today show, USA Today, The New York Times and National Public Radio. Umstead has also filmed, produced and edited more than 100 original video interviews, profiles and news reports featuring key cable television executives as well as entertainers and celebrity personalities.