Latest news with #EsiEdugyan
Daily Mirror
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Mirror
Viewers binge 'much-watch' period drama in 'one day'
Fans claim the limited series 'makes for a good couch binge' Disney+ viewers have been hooked by a new period drama hailed as a 'must watch'. Sterling K Brown's Washington Black landed on the streamer on July 23 and has already received overwhelming praise. Set in 19th Century Barbados the eight-part series follows an 11-year-old boy named George Washington 'Wash' Black (portrayed by Ernest Kingsley Jr). After witnessing a gruesome death, George is forced to flee his home on a sugar plantation, leading him on a wild adventure around the globe. Based on Esi Edugyan's novel of the same name, the limited series sees George taken under the wing of Medwin Harris (played by Brown), who similarly had a traumatic upbringing in Nova Scotia. The cast also features Lucifer star Tom Ellis in the role of George's companion Christopher 'Titch' Wilde. At its core, the drama delves into hefty themes such as the quest for freedom in the midst of slavery. After just a few days on Disney+, Washington Black has already bagged an impressive 88% Rotten Tomatoes score, with audiences awarding it a less generous 60% rating. Critics on the site rave about the new period piece, stating: "An adventure yarn bolstered by weighty themes, Washington Black brings Esi Edugyan's acclaimed novel to life with a terrific ensemble and striking production design." Meanwhile, FandomWire praised in their review: "The wanderlust world of faith, hope, and trust is explored in such a beautiful and impactful way with gorgeous set pieces, costumes, and visuals, making Washington Black a must-watch." Casual viewers have been left equally impressed, with many taking to social media to share glowing reviews. "Yo #WashingtonBlack is pretty d**n good. Really well acted and excellently paced. Whimsical, charming, suspenseful. It's all the things that make for a good couch binge," praised an X, formerly Twitter, user. A second echoed the praise: "Binged the whole thing in one day loved it," with a third posting: "Hey! So #WashingtonBlack is a 10/10 series as I've spent my entire day binge watching it. #SterlingKBrown is a genius." Yet another viewer raved on IMDb: "I hadn't heard much about Washington Black before watching, but after just one episode, I'm completely hooked. "The story is gripping, the visuals are stunning, and the acting is top-tier. Seeing some of my favourite actors like Sterling K. Brown and Tom Ellis in the cast makes it even better. I can't wait to see where this journey goes!"
Yahoo
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Sterling K. Brown Reflects on Getting to Help Bring ‘Paradise' and ‘Washington Black' to Life
Sterling K. Brown is using his prolific career to help support new TV shows — including Paradise and Washington Black. "Everything happens in divine timing — exactly when it's supposed to. It may not be exactly what you are hoping for but it's always exactly what it's supposed to be," Brown, 49, noted during an exclusive interview with Us Weekly about Washington Black's release on Hulu. Brown, who plays Medwin, said he was "tremendously proud" of his latest role. "It's a beautiful story. It is told beautifully and shot beautifully. We got a chance to shoot in Iceland and in Nova Scotia and in Mexico. We got a chance to take this very melanated cast across the globe," he gushed. "And to see something with that level of expanse that has us centered [in it] gives me a tremendous amount of pride." What to Know About Sterling K. Brown's 'Washington Black': From Cast Details to Book Connections While reflecting on his recent projects, Brown acknowledged his work behind and in front of the camera, adding, "By virtue of me being an executive producer, if that helped get the story get told then I hope to help get more stories like that told." Brown has remained booked and busy since wrapping up his time on NBC's This Is Us. His most recent show, Washington Black, offered Brown a chance to partner with Selwyn Seyfu Hinds to produce a TV adaptation of Esi Edugyan's novel of the same name. The 2019 book follows George Washington Black (Eddie Karanja and Ernest Kingsley Jr.) through past and present timelines as he is raised under the shadow of slavery before catching the attention of the sugar plantation owner's brother. A young Washington is recruited to help the owner's brother, leading to an adventure around the world. Washington in present day goes by Wash and lives in Nova Scotia, where he is taken under the wing of town leader Medwin Harris (Brown). "Medwin is a small mention in the book. We definitely extrapolate it just so I could have something to do," Brown told Us of his character. "But it's interesting to see the difference in mentorship that Wash has throughout his life and him moving to place of, 'Oh, I don't need a mentor. Anything that I thought that I needed from someone else I actually have with myself.' Then it moves from mentorship to partnership. So I like to see how Medwin functions in that way and his ultimate evolution of Wash." While Washington Black was just released on Wednesday, July 23, it was in the works for some time. It was even filmed before Brown's other hit Hulu series Paradise, which reunited him with This Is Us creator Dan Fogelman. The political thriller, which premiered in January, received critical acclaim and was renewed one month later. Washington Black gave Brown a chance to elevate the stories he wants to see released. It also provided the opportunity for him to mentor several of the show's stars, who couldn't help but sing Brown's praises. Summer TV Preview 2025: Inside Must-Watch New and Returning Shows From 'The Bear' to 'Love Island USA' "First of all, I feel like I kind of dragged Sterling into being a mentor. I just kind of asked him so many questions, like, 'Hey man, how are you doing? It's 1:00 a.m. but I need your help,'" Kingsley Jr., who plays adult Wash, joked to Us. "It was natural, to be honest. It was naturally built." Kingsley Jr. pointed out how Brown "operates with vulnerability in such a powerful way," adding, "Sterling operates with a sense of power, and he encourages and incites it in you. It is this sense of, if you open up to that [kind of vulnerability yourself] then it will be held and cared for and loved. I feel like he spread that out across multiple cast members and across the crew." He continued: "Just his presence was a mentorship and getting to see him every day. It was a blessing and a gift to have him on set. Also, just to have him in my life. Now he can't get rid of me." Brown, meanwhile, attempted to play off the praise, quipping, "I paid them all. That's really the bottom line of the whole thing. I walked their dogs when they needed me to. I do special favors so they say nice things about him." Washington Black is currently streaming on Hulu. Solve the daily Crossword
Daily Mirror
24-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mirror
Washington Black season 2 prospects as critics fall in love with epic adventure drama
Washington Black has been a hit with fans since it first aired, but will the show be returning for a second season? Washington Black broadcasts on Hulu and Disney Plus, with the programme drawing from Esi Edugyan's novel of the same title. Edugyan drew inspiration from historical accounts of slavery when crafting Washington Black, which chronicles the 19th-century journey of George Washington "Wash" Black (portrayed by Ernest Kingsley Jr). At just 11 years old, he was compelled to escape his residence on a Barbados sugar plantation after witnessing a horrific fatality. The programme has captivated audiences with its outstanding ensemble, featuring Sterling K Brown as Medwin Harris and Tom Ellis as Wilde. Here's everything you need to understand about the show's prospects following the inaugural season. Will there be a season 2 of Washington Black? Regrettably for devotees, it appears the programme won't continue past its first season, as it's been classified as a miniseries. In March 2019, 20th Television acquired the rights to the novel, and by September that year, reports emerged of an adaptation being developed at Hulu with Sterling K. Brown attached as executive producer. In October 2021, it was revealed Hulu had commissioned a limited television adaptation of the novel. Given this context, it seems the narrative will unfold across a compact eight episodes, culminating in a definitive conclusion. The programme has already garnered glowing praise from reviewers, with Sherin Cole commenting on Rotten Tomatoes: "The series transforms a harrowing flight from retaliation into a visually lush quest for identity and freedom, blending historical drama with the heart and wonder of a coming-of-age epic." Carly Lane from Collider remarked: "Overall, the pleasure of watching a show like Washington Black is the mere fact that it exists, rooted in joy, adventure, romance, and self-discovery." The Guardian included the show amongst its top seven programmes to watch this week.
CTV News
23-07-2025
- Entertainment
- CTV News
New series ‘Washington Black' premieres with Nova Scotia as a backdrop
Washington Black is a powerful new series with Hollywood star power and a strong East Coast connection. The eight-part limited series is based on the acclaimed novel by Canadian author Esi Edugyan. British actor Ernest Kingsley Jr. stars in the title role, opposite Emmy Award winner Sterling K. Brown. 'Washington Black follows the story of Washington Black, this, young, intelligent, spirited young man is born in his plantation,' said Kingsley Jr. 'And after a series of events, he manages to escape the plantation in Barbados - he goes on this, larger than life adventure.' 'My character's name is Medwin Harris, and he's sort of the de facto mayor of this free township of Black people in Halifax,' said Brown. 'He's taken it upon himself to create a community and a family of folks to look out for one another. Washington flees to this place and sort of takes him under his wing, and he becomes a mentor of sorts to the young man.' The series stands apart from traditional narratives. 'In terms of stories that are told with people who start on plantations… they tend to focus on the pain and the hardship,' said Brown. 'And I've heard from my community in particular that they're not just interested in pain and hardship. They're interested in joy and perseverance and transcendence. I said, 'Oh, what a wonderful opportunity to flip this traditional narrative on its ear and tell a story that is truly beautiful.'' Washington Black New series Washington Black filmed in Nova Scotia premieres July 23. (Source: Disney+) (Cristian Salvatierra/Disney) Part of the series was filmed in Nova Scotia – an experience the actors say left a lasting impression. 'It was absolutely incredible,' said Kingsley Jr. 'The community, the locations…' The actors also embraced the local culture - even sampling iconic East Coast dishes. 'Poutine is nice, 'Kingsley Jr. said. 'And donairs… but don't overdo it on the sauce,' said Brown 'It's sweet. Very, very sweet.' But it wasn't just the food that stood out. Washington Black New series Washington Black filmed in Nova Scotia premieres July 23. (Source: Disney+) (Cristian Salvatierra/Disney) 'Walking by the water in Halifax is one of my favourite things to do,' said Brown. 'I probably walked five miles a day because it's just so picturesque and beautiful. And the people - honest to goodness - could not have been more kind. There's a certain freedom that I felt in that space that I don't always feel in the States. It was a joy to be up there.' Washington Black premieres today on Disney+ in Canada.
Yahoo
23-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
'Washington Black': Why Sterling K. Brown, Tom Ellis, Ernest Kingsley Jr. show had to film in Halifax
The new show Washington Black (now on Disney+ in Canada, Hulu in the U.S.) explores the history of Black settlements in Halifax in the adaptation of Esi Edugyan acclaimed novel. Filmed in the Nova Scotia capital, starring Sterling K. Brown, Tom Ellis, Ernest Kingsley Jr., Rupert Graves and Iola Evans, the series follows George Washington 'Wash' Black, an eleven-year-old boy born on a Barbados sugar plantation, who ends up on a an adventurous journey of hope and freedom. "I think what made the novel such an effective piece of work is that it has a core emotional DNA that's universal," creator, co-showrunner and executive producer, Selwyn Seyfu Hinds, told Yahoo Canada. "People are always thinking about how to write a story that appeals to everyone, that gets to everyone, and I always say that you find universality in specificity." "There's something, sure, that starts in a very specific place about Wash and his challenges and his journey, the way he finds light out of darkness. But as you move that micro out to macro, that's all of us. ... We're all looking for that light at the end of the tunnel." Set in the 19th century, Wash develops an interest in science at a young age (first played by Eddie Karanja, later Ernest Kingsley Jr.), with inventor Christopher 'Titch' Wilde (Tom Ellis) taking him under his wing, becoming a mentor for Wash as they team up to create inventions, including a flying machine. In the later timeline Wash is living as a free man in Halifax, quickly crushing on Tanna Goff (Iola Evans), born on the Solomon Islands and raised by her white father, played by Rupert Graves, after her mother's death when she was young. "[They're both] discovering who they are, who you are told to be, versus who you feel you are inside," co-showrunner and executive producer, Kimberly Ann Harrison, said. "I think that we were able to explore that through [Tanna], in a different way." "The stories really kind of mirrored each other, ... just through the female lens. I really think that was important, to ... be able to platform her story and show her struggle with identity. And eventually, stepping into her own shoes of what she wants." Throughout the show's eight episodes, the audience is taken on a globe-trotting adventure through Wash's life. "We have lots of influences, but I have two really big ones. One on the literary side is Jules Verne. ... And the other one, as a kid in the '70s and the '80s, is Spielberg," Hinds said. "So in some ways Wash is sort of like those two worlds for me mashing together. And it was just a thrill to be able to find a project that allowed you to do that." View this post on Instagram A post shared by Disney+ Canada 🇨🇦 (@disneyplusca) There's something particularly compelling, unique and appealing about how Washington Black tells the story from a child's point of view, with Hinds highlighting that "children dream of the impossible." "I think putting the story in a child's eyes gives you access to a kind of imagination, a kind of dreaming, just a kind of emotional resiliency that's different with an adult character," he said. Additionally, there's a n impactful exploration of how Wash is impacted by the mentors in his life, but they learn from him as well. "I think there's a lot that obviously Wash learned from his mentors, both in the past and present day, but at the same time a lot of these adults are learning life lessons from this child, from this enslaved child," Harrison said. "That's what really is special about this series." Filming in Halifax: 'We couldn't have faked this anywhere else' In order to have the authenticity required to effectively tell this story, Washington Black had to be filmed in Nova Scotia, while the crew behind the film also comitted to connecting with the local community. "Authenticity is a word that we toss around a lot, and community. Even before we started rolling cameras in Halifax, we were there for months on the ground, just in pre-production," Hinds explained. "And during that time, were able to learn so much more about the history, learn so much more about the community, and go into the [Black Loyalist Heritage Centre] in Halifax. It was just an overwhelming, emotional experience, ... talking to people whose families have been there for hundreds of years." "So we really try to infuse the real place into the show, and that's part of ... the effect it has when you watch it." "We couldn't have faked this anywhere else," Harrison added. "This entire time in Halifax was a history lesson for me, in particular, and I just think that's what made it so special. And being authentic to the location and telling that story, I just think that's what brought it all together."
