John Legend’s production company, Get Lifted, has been tapped to executive produce WGN’s upcoming thriller series Underground. Legend, along with partners Mike Jackson and Ty Stiklorius, will also oversee all the musical aspects of the show, including the score and the soundtrack.
“We are excited to join forces with WGN America and Sony and the talented team of writers and producers on this powerful project that we believe will inspire us all,” Legend said in a statement. “This series has a unique opportunity to speak to the passion and courage of those who risked it all as they raced to freedom. We are honored to bring our creative vision to this thrilling project.”
The shows creators, Misha Green and Joe Pokaski, said that the Grammy award winning singer was a “perfect fit” for such a series that “depicts a raw and revolutionary chapter in the American story.”
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“We are beyond excited to be working with John, Mike and Ty at Get Lifted. They stand without peer at the intersection of music and television – we couldn’t think of better producing partners.”
Kanye West was also said to be executive producing the musical soundtrack for the series as well.
Underground follows slaves as they try to escape from a Georgia plantation under the guidance of an abolitionist couple. The series stars Aldis Hodge, Jurnee Smollett-Bell, Christopher Meloni, Alano Miller , Jessica de Gouw , Marc Blucas, , a Adina Porter, Mykelti Williamson Amirah Vann, Johnny Ray Gill, Chris Chalk, Reed Diamond and Jussie Smollett.
It is set to premiere in early 2016.