“Engrossing drama”
— The Boston Globe

“Compelling”
— The Hollywood Reporter

“This is BET’s first mini-series and the network should be proud.”
— St. Louis Post Dispatch

 

THIS APRIL, ENTERTAINMENT ONE WILL RELEASE
AN ACCLAIMED MINI-SERIES — CALLED “ROOTS FOR
THE 21ST CENTURY” — ON A SPECIAL EDITION DVD

 

THE BOOK OF NEGROES

 

Fresh from its U.S. Premiere in February, BET’s Top-Rated Original Mini-Series, Starring Aunjanue Ellis, Louis Gossett Jr. and Cuba Gooding Jr., Will Arrive With More Than Three Hours of Bonus Programming Including In-Depth Interviews with Cast,
Author Lawrence Hill, Deleted Scenes and a 28-Page Book

The Complete Series is Also Available Through All Major Digital Platforms

 

 

New York, NY/Toronto, Canada (March 5, 2015) – Following in the powerful tradition of “Roots”, THE BOOK OF NEGROES recounts the harrowing journey of Aminata Diallo (Aunjanue Ellis, The Help, Ray) and her return home after being forced into slavery as a child.  A universal story of loss, courage and triumph, the acclaimed mini-series event, which just had its U.S. broadcast premiere on BET this February, will be available as a special edition 3-disc DVD release on April 7, 2015, exclusively from Entertainment One.

Aside from the sweeping six-part historical drama, the loaded DVD set will feature more than three hours of in-depth bonus features — going behind-the-scenes, deeper into history and into the minds of those involved in the production, adding to an already indelible and compelling viewing experience.  Extras include the featurettes “History of the Black Loyalists Society” and “Amistad”; ten cast interviews with stars Aunjanue Ellis, Louis Gossett Jr., Cuba Gooding Jr. and others; two exclusive interviews with best-selling author Lawrence Hill; and 30-minutes of deleted scenes.  Additionally, the set contains a 28-page collector’s book featuring an exclusive essay from Hill.

An epic dramatic adaptation of the critically acclaimed, Oprah Winfrey listed novel by Lawrence Hill, THE BOOK OF NEGROES depicts the extraordinary life of Aminata Diallo – an indomitable African woman who survives against all odds in a world that forever underestimates her.  Kidnapped by slave traders in West Africa and subsequently enslaved in South Carolina, Aminata must navigate her way through the American Revolution in New York, the isolated refuge of Nova Scotia and the treacherous jungles of Sierra Leone, before ultimately securing her freedom in England at the dawn of the 19th century.

Directed by award-winning filmmaker Clement Virgo (“The Wire”, Poor Boy’s Game) and co-written by Hill and Virgo, THE BOOK OF NEGROES also stars Academy Award® winner Cuba Gooding Jr. (Jerry Maguire, A Few Good Men), Academy Award®, Golden Globe® and Primetime Emmy® winner Louis Gossett Jr. (An Officer and a Gentleman, “Roots”, “Boardwalk Empire”), and Lyriq Bent (“Rookie Blue”), as well as Oscar® nominee Jane Alexander (The Cider House Rules), Ben Chaplin (The Thin Red Line) and Allan Hawco (“Republic of Doyle”).  For consumers interested in digital options, THE BOOK OF NEGROES is currently available for purchase through all major digital download platforms, either as a complete mini-series or episodically.

An official Canada-South Africa treaty co-production, THE BOOK OF NEGROES was produced by Conquering Lion Pictures, Out of Africa Entertainment, Entertainment One and Idlewild Films. Executive producers include Damon D’Oliveira (“What We Have”, “Lie with Me”) and Clement Virgo for Conquering Lion Pictures; Lance Samuels (“Inescapable”, Bang Bang Club) from Out of Africa Entertainment; Bill Niven (Heartbeat) of Idlewild Films; and eOne’s Carrie Stein (Coco Chanel, Burn Up, Diamonds) and Margaret O’Brien (“Bitten”, “Rookie Blue”). Other executive producers include Daniel Iron (“Cairo Time”, “Away From Her”) and Michael Levine (“The Republic of Doyle”).

 

THE BOOK OF NEGROES

 

Street Date: April 7, 2015

Format: DVD/3 Discs

Catalog #:  741952788393

SRP: $39.98

Running Time: 265 mins. + 185 mins. extras

Genre:  TV/Drama

About Entertainment One

Entertainment One Ltd. (LSE:ETO) is a leading international entertainment company that specializes in the acquisition, production and distribution of film and television content.  The company’s comprehensive network extends around the globe including Canada, the U.S., the UK, Ireland, Spain, Benelux, France, Germany, Scandinavia, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa and South Korea.  Through established Film and Television divisions, the company provides extensive expertise in film distribution, television and music production, family programming, merchandising and licensing, and digital content. Its current rights library is exploited across all media formats and includes more than 40,000 film and television titles, 4,500 hours of television programming and 45,000 music tracks.

 

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