"Empire's" Jussie Smollett Guest Stars in WGN America's Critically Acclaimed Hit Series "Underground," Wednesday, March 30 at 10:00 p.m. ET/PT

"Empire's" Jussie Smollett Guest Stars in WGN America's Critically Acclaimed Hit Series "Underground," Wednesday, March 30 at 10:00 p.m. ET/PT

"Underground" Marathon to Air Today Beginning at 8:00 p.m. ET/PT

Escape Thriller Draws 3 Million Total Viewers Season-To-Date on Wednesday Nights; #1 Trending Topic on Twitter

LOS ANGELES, March 28, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- "Empire's" Jussie Smollett will guest star in WGN America's critically acclaimed hit series "Underground," marking the first time in 20 years that Smollett will appear in the same series as his younger sister Jurnee Smollett-Bell (Rosalee). Smollett will play Josey, a wild-eyed runaway, in the upcoming episode, "Firefly," premiering Wednesday, March 30 at 10:00 p.m. (ET/PT) on WGN America.

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Link to Download High-Res Photos: HERE

To watch a clip from episode 104, click HERE.

"Underground" was the #1 trending topic on Twitter last Wednesday night during its airing, and fans can catch up on the much-talked about series in a marathon of the first three episodes airing back-to-back today starting at 8:00 p.m. (ET/PT) on WGN America.

Season-to-date, WGN America's "Underground" has delivered a remarkable 3 million Total Viewers on Wednesday nights in Live + 3 DVR viewing and is the network's highest performing original drama ever. The hit freshman show is the #6 highest-rated cable series premiere of the 2015-16 Broadcast TV season.

In the all-new fourth episode of "Underground," John and Elizabeth Hawkes come face-to-face with Josey in a traumatic confrontation and test of wills. The Macons realize Noah and Rosalee are missing and enlist August Pullman to help find the runaways. Meanwhile, Ernestine tries to cope with her daughter's absence and the others debate whether they should run. Cato enacts a daring plan that has immediate repercussions on the plantation, while Pearly Mae makes an extremely difficult personal decision.

From creators and executive producers Misha Green and Joe Pokaski, and executive producer and Academy Award(®)-winner John Legend, the 10-episode, hour-long program tells the unflinching story of a group of courageous men and women who band together for the fight of their lives - for their families, their future and their freedom.

"Underground" features an acclaimed cast including Jurnee Smollett-Bell ("True Blood," "Friday Night Lights") as Rosalee; Aldis Hodge ("Straight Outta Compton") as Noah; Christopher Meloni ("Sin City: A Dame to Kill For") as August Pullman; Alano Miller ("Jane The Virgin") as Cato; Jessica de Gouw ("Arrow," "Dracula") as Elizabeth Hawkes; Marc Blucas ("Buffy the Vampire Slayer") as John Hawkes; Adina Porter ("The 100") as Pearly Mae; Mykelti Williamson ("Justified," "24") as Moses; Amirah Vann ("Girls," "And So It Goes") as Ernestine; Johnny Ray Gill ("Rectify") as Sam; Chris Chalk ("Gotham") as William Still; Reed Diamond ("Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.") as Tom Macon; Theodus Crane ("The Walking Dead") as Zeke; Renwick Scott ("Treme") as Henry; James Lafferty ("One Tree Hill") as U.S. Marshall Kyle Risdin and Jussie Smollett ("Empire") as Josey.

Produced by Sony Pictures Television and Tribune Studios, "Underground" is created by Misha Green ("Sons Of Anarchy," "Heroes") and Joe Pokaski ("Daredevil," "Heroes,") who executive produce alongside Academy Award-winner Akiva Goldsman ("A Beautiful Mind," "I Am Legend") of Weed Road Pictures; and Joby Harold ("King Arthur," "Edge of Tomorrow") and Tory Tunnell ("King Arthur," "Holy Rollers") of Safehouse Pictures. Visionary artist and producer John Legend, an Academy Award, Golden Globe(®) and multi-Grammy Award winner, and his Get Lifted partners Mike Jackson and Ty Stiklorius, executive produce. Additionally, Get Lifted oversees all elements of the show's music. Anthony Hemingway ("The Wire," "Treme") directs and serves as executive producer for the first four episodes.

https://www.youtube.com/embed/abcnRSE1mVY

[Nielsen Media Research: Live + 3]

WGN America and Tribune Studios
WGN America, the flagship entertainment network of Tribune Media Company (NYSE: TRCO) is nationally distributed in nearly 80 million homes via cable, satellite and telco, with high-quality entertainment programming including the breakout hit series "Outsiders," "Underground" and "Salem." The network also brings its audience a strong slate of popular first-run syndicated series and blockbuster movies. Through Tribune Studios, the creative development arm of Tribune Media, original content is produced for WGN America and Tribune local stations nationwide. Follow the network on Twitter @wgnamerica. For additional information, please visit www.wgnamerica.com.

About Sony Pictures Television
Sony Pictures Television is one of the television industry's leading content providers, producing and distributing programming worldwide in every genre and for every platform. In addition to managing one of the industry's largest libraries of award-winning feature films, television shows and formats, SPT is home to a thriving US production business and operates 18 wholly-owned or joint venture production companies in 11 countries around the world. SPT's worldwide networks portfolio includes 150 channel feeds, which are available in 178 countries reaching more than 1.3 billion cumulative households worldwide. Sony Pictures Television (SPT) is a Sony Pictures Entertainment Company.

"Underground" cast on Twitter:
Jurnee Smollett-Bell @jurneesmollett
Aldis Hodge @AldisHodge
Christopher Meloni @Chris_Meloni
Alano Miller @AlanoMiller
Jessica de Gouw @jessdegouw
Amirah Vann @amirahvann
Marc Blucas @marcblucas
Reed Diamond @reeddiamond
Johnny Ray Gill @JohnnyRayGill
Theodus Crane @theoduscrane
Mykelti Williamson @mykeltiwmson
Adina Porter @AdinaPorter
Jussie Smollett @jussiesmollett
Christopher Backus @_cbackus
PJ Marshall @ThePJMarshall
James Lafferty @ThisIsLafferty
Chris Chalk @chalkchris

"Underground" creative team on Twitter:
John Legend @johnlegend
Misha Green @mishatrillXXL
Joe Pokaski @JoePokaski
Anthony Hemingway @shinybootz
Akiva Goldsman @AkivaGoldsman
Mike Jackson @mikemjackson312
Ty Stiklorius @tystiklorius

Follow:
Facebook https://www.facebook.com/UndergroundWGN
Twitter https://twitter.com/undergroundwgn
Follow the series @UndergroundWGN -- #BreakFree

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SOURCE WGN America

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WGN America

CONTACT: Rita Cooper Lee, WGN America and Tribune Studios, 424.702.4448, rcooperlee@tribunemedia.com, Krista Curry, FerenComm for WGN America, 212.983.9898, kristac@ferencomm.com

Web Site: http://www.wgnamerica.com


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