Jussie Smollett Joins Sister Jurnee in WGN’s Slave Drama ‘Underground’

Jurnee Smollett-Bell and Jussie Smollett
Jurnee Smollett-Bell and Jussie Smollett

*“Empire” star Jussie Smollett will moonlight in a guest starring role on WGN’s “Underground,” joining his famous sister Jurnee Smollett-Bell, the network announced Wednesday.

As previously reported, “Underground” follows a group of Georgia slaves planning a 600-mile escape to freedom. Along the way, they are aided by a secret abolitionist couple running a station on the Underground Railroad as they attempt to evade the people charged with bringing them back, dead or alive.

Smollett will play Josey, a runaway who doesn’t trust anyone, not even those stationed along the way who would try to help him.

This marks the first on-screen reunion for Smollett and his sister in since both starred alongside their other siblings in the 1994 ABC sitcom “On Our Own.”

Cast of ABC's "On Our Own" - Jurnee (bottom, left), Jussie (top, right)
Cast of ABC’s “On Our Own” – Jurnee (bottom, left), Jussie (top, right)

Smollett joins a cast that includes Christopher Meloni (Law & Order: SVU), Reed Diamond (Agents of SHIELD), Aldis Hodge (Rectify), Jessica De Gouw (Arrow) and Marc Blucas (Buffy the Vampire Slayer).

Creators Misha Green (Sons of Anarchy) and Joe Pokaski (Heroes) will exec produce the Sony Pictures Television and Tribune Studios entry with Weed Road Pictures’ Akiva Goldsman, Tory Tunnell and Joby Harold of Safehouse Pictures.

Production began in the spring for a 2016 premiere.

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