Despite a fair number of teasers already released, the new trailer for “The Underground Railroad,” from director Barry Jenkins, is the best look yet at the overall plot of his upcoming Amazon Prime series. The show is based on the acclaimed novel from Colson Whitehead and tells the story of a woman, Cora Randall, who is desperate to find freedom in the antebellum South and attempts to escape a Georgia plantation on a mission to find the rumored Underground Railroad.
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Obviously, the big name that dominates the discussion surrounding “The Underground Railroad” is Barry Jenkins. As a filmmaker, Jenkins broke out in a big, big way thanks to the Oscar-winning feature, “Moonlight.” He then followed that up with an acclaimed period drama, “If Beale Street Could Talk,” which solidified his standing as one of the best American filmmakers working today. And judging by this trailer for “The Underground Railroad,” you just have to assume he’s going to be a dominant force in this year’s Emmy discussion, right?
The ensemble cast for the Amazon Prime Video series includes Thuso Mbedu, Chase W. Dillon, Joel Edgerton, Aaron Pierre, William Jackson Harper, Sheila Atim, Amber Gray, Peter De Jersey, Chukwudi Iwuji, Damon Herriman, Lily Rabe, Irone Singleton, Mychal-Bella Bowman, Marcus “MJ” Gladney, Jr., Will Poulter, and Peter Mullan. As mentioned, “The Underground Railroad” features Jenkins as the showrunner and director of all 10 episodes.
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“The Underground Railroad” debuts on Amazon Prime Video on May 14. You can watch the trailer for the 10-episode series below.
Here’s the synopsis:
The Underground Railroad chronicles Cora Randall’s (newcomer Thuso Mbedu) desperate bid for freedom in the antebellum South. After escaping a Georgia plantation for the rumored Underground Railroad, Cora discovers no mere metaphor, but an actual railroad full of engineers and conductors, and a secret network of tracks and tunnels beneath the Southern soil. Over the course of her journey, Cora is pursued by Ridgeway (Joel Edgerton), a bounty hunter who is fixated on bringing her back to the plantation she escaped; especially since her mother Mabel is the only one he has never caught. As she travels from state to state, Cora contends with the legacy of the mother that left her behind and her own struggles to realize a life she never thought was possible.