Esi Edugyan's Washington Black to be Adapted; Sterling K. Brown to Star and Executive Produce

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Good news from the adaption world!! Esi Edugyan's historical adventure novel is being adapted by Selwyn Seyfu Hinds into a nine episode limited television series. 

Hulu has just given a limited-series order to an upcoming adventure series, Washington Black, based on the international best-selling novel from Esi Edugyan, The Root has learned.

Per a press release, the nine-episode series will star This Is Us’ Sterling K. Brown, who has also been tapped to executive produce alongside Selwyn Sefyu Hinds, who will be responsible for adapting the the show.

Washington Black tells the tale of the extraordinary 19th-century adventures of George Washington “Wash” Black, an 11-year-old boy on a Barbados sugar plantation who must flee after a shocking death threatens to upend his life.

Sterling K. Brown is starring as the outgoing, larger-than-life Medwin Harris; Washington’s mentor. Medwin Harris has an interesting background of his own. He traveled the world after his traumatic childhood as a Black refugee in Nova Scotia and is the de facto mayor of Black Halifax; prioritizing the community over everything except Washington Black, his young protégé. Meeting Washington sends Harris down a challenging path of self-discovery. Through his relationship with Wash, Medwin will learn to dream again.

This relationship is sure to bring a lot of emotional heft to the series and I can’t wait to see Brown handle the role. Brown said the main character Washington Brown inspires him by reminding him “how the power of imagination and the creativity of artistry can transform the world in which we live.”

Selwyn Seyfu Hinds was also moved by the words of Esi Edugyan saying that “writing ‘Washington Black’ these past two years has guided me back home. This story of a young Black boy who becomes a globe-trotting artist, scientist and inventor. This tale of the true human superpowers: hope, love, empathy, persistence. Those ideas have been my North Star.”

 

I’m very excited about this series as it brings much needed theme diversity to period series. I can’t wait to see the adventures that little Washington Black gets into on screen. Also, I just know Sterling K. Brown is going to look amazing in 19th century clothing! 

 

As I learn new information on this exciting project I will report it. 


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