Sterling K. Brown is switching lanes—again—and this time, he’s taking us around the globe and back in time.
Washington Black, an adaptation of Esi Edugyan’s award-winning novel, hits Hulu on July 23 in the U.S. and Disney+ internationally. Brown not only stars in the series but also serves as executive producer.
The eight-episode series follows the incredible odyssey of George Washington “Wash” Black, an 11-year-old boy born into slavery on a Barbados sugar plantation. But Wash isn’t just any kid, he’s got a prodigious mind for science and an unshakable curiosity that propels him far beyond the fields he was born into.
After a traumatic event forces him to flee, Wash is rescued by the eccentric and progressive-minded Christopher “Titch” Wilde (played by Tom Ellis), the brother of the plantation owner.
Titch enlists Wash to help with his experiments, and the two embark on a wild escape that evolves into a global adventure, from the Caribbean to the tundra of Nova Scotia.
While the talented Eddie Karanja plays young Wash, it’s Ernest Kingsley Jr. who steps into the role as the older version, taking the reins as the story expands into Wash’s adult life. And of course, Sterling K. Brown stars as Medwin Harris, a leader in Halifax who becomes a mentor to Wash during his most transformative years.
The star-studded cast also includes Iola Evans, Rupert Graves, Edward Bluemel, Sharon Duncan Brewster, Stephen Rider, and Billy Boyd.
At its core, Washington Black is more than a period drama—it’s a love letter to Black imagination, resilience, and adventure.
“I’ve never seen the story being told through the lens of a young enslaved boy… That idea of dreaming and following through on those dreams was so amazing to me. You haven’t seen something like this,” Kimberly Ann Harrison, executive producer, said to Entertainment Weekly.
Washington Black bridges continents, centuries, and identities, all while centering a young Black boy’s right to dream.
We look forward to seeing more about the upcoming series.
