Roots Remake Trailer

The History Channel has released the trailer for the remake of the 1977 historic miniseries, Roots. The original ABC show earned a grand total of 37 Emmy nominations, winning nine, plus a Golden Globe, and a Peabody.

Adapted from Alex Haley's novel Roots: Saga of an American Family, the eight-hour event miniseries is a historical portrait of American slavery seen through the eyes of Kunta Kinte and his family, who were sold into slavery after being kidnapped from their homes in Africa. The show follows Kinte and his family's struggle to survive the era of slavery.

Star Trek's LeVar Burton, who played Kinte in the original miniseries, and is executive producing the new series, revealed that "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."

The new miniseries boasts an impressive cast including Forest Whitaker, Mekhi Phifer, Laurence Fishburne, Anika Noni Rose, Anna Paquin, Jonathan Rhys Meyers, Emayatzy Corinealdi, Tip "T.I." Harris, Matthew Goode, James Purefoy, and Regé-Jean Page and Malachi Kirby as "Chicken" George Moore and Kunta Kinte, respectively.

Directed by Phillip Noyce, Mario Van Peebles, Thomas Carter, and Bruce Beresford, Roots will premiere on May 30, and will air until June 2nd.