Joel Edgerton stars as a slave catcher mercilessly tracking newcomer Thuso Mbedu in action-packed trailer for Oscar-winner Barry Jenkins’ new show The Underground Railroad
The official trailer for Barry Jenkins’ Amazon Prime limited series The Underground Railroad was released on Thursday.
In an action-packed teaser for the forthcoming show, newcomer Thuso Mbedu was seen alongside The Good Place’s William Jackson Harper and Joel Edgerton for the Oscar-winning director’s adaptation of Colson Whitehead’s novel of the same name.
The show follows Mbedu’s Cora Randall and her desperate bid for freedom from a life of slavery in the North by traversing through the Underground Railroad, while being chased by slave catcher Ridgeway (Edgerton).
Tense: Joel Edgerton (R) stars as a slave catcher mercilessly tracking newcomer Thuso Mbedu in the trailer for Barry Jenkins’ new show The Underground Railroad, released on Thursday
The trailer opens with glimpses of Cora’s life in the South before she discovers the Underground Railroad, and a character is heard saying: ‘Where do they go, the ones that runaway and never return?’
Aaron Pierre’s Caesar, who is shown experiencing violence at the hands of slavers from a young age, is then heard saying: ‘There’s nothing but pain and suffering, it is time to go.’
As Cora goes on the run, Joel’s menacing Ridgeway makes an appearance and reveals he is searching for her over the ‘murder of a child’.
Drama: The show follows Mbedu’s Cora Randall and her desperate bid for freedom from a life of slavery in the North, while being chased by slave catcher Ridgeway (Edgerton)
Escape: The trailer opens with glimpses of Cora discovering the underground railroad, she goes on the run as Ridgeway (Edgerton) claims she’s wanted for the ‘murder of a child’
Reflecting on Ridgeway’s determination to catch her, while scenes of him traversing the American countryside are shown, Cora admits gravely: ‘I know he never given up on finding me.’
In heartbreaking scenes that appear to be prior to her escape, Cora is seen being held back by Ridgeway as a white woman sets her home ablaze.
He ominously tells her: ‘You have anger in you, it’ll fuel you, yes, but its the worst kind of fuel.’
Merciless: Reflecting on Ridgeway’s determination to catch her Cora admits gravely: ‘I know he never given up on finding me’
Also starring: In the North, Cora meets William Jackson Harper’s Royal (pictured), who asks if she made her way ‘on the railroad’ and she says yes, admitting she ‘left behind all those people’
American Horror Story’s Lily Rabe makes a brief appearance as another character is heard reflecting on ‘the savagery men are capable of when he believes his cause to be just.’
Seemingly in the North, Cora meets Harper’s Royal, who asks if she made her way ‘on the railroad’ and she says yes, admitting she ‘left behind all those people.’
The trailer then shows free black men, women and children living in the North, dancing at balls and enjoying food together.
Fighting: The trailer also features tense scenes, with Cora holding up a gun to the camera and other characters engaging in combat with slavers
Origins: The Underground Railroad is based on Colson Whitehead’s novel of the same name, and Jenkins serves as showrunner for the limited series and directed all 10 episodes
A character is heard saying: ‘Nothing was given, all was earned. Hold on to what belongs to you.’
It is then that the teaser features even more tense scenes, with Cora holding up a gun to the camera and other characters engaging in combat with slavers.
Jenkins serves as showrunner for the limited series and directed all 10 episodes, it was produced by Plan B, Pastel and Big Indie, in association with Amazon Studios.
The Underground Railroad is set to be released globally on Amazon Prime Video on May 14, 2021.
One to watch: The Underground Railroad is set to be released globally on Amazon Prime Video on May 14, 2021