Hollywood stars set for MIPCOM Book of Negroes debut

MIPCOM will play host to a worldwide premiere preview of upcoming Canadian event miniseries The Book of Negroes.

Stars such Cuba Gooding Jr. (Jerry Maguire, A Few Good Men) and Aujuanue Ellis (Ray, The Help) are scheduled to attend an exclusive screening will take place in the Grand Auditorium of Palais des Festivals at 6.30pm in Cannes, France on Monday, 13 October.

Emmy-winner Lou Gossett Jr. will also appear alongside Negroes director and co-writer Clement Virgo and executive producer Damon D’Oliveira.

Conquering Lion Pictures, Out of Africa Entertainment, Entertainment One and Idlewild Films are coproducing the mini, which is based on a book about a resolute African slave women surviving around the world in the 19^th century. CBC in Canada and BET in the US are attached, and eOne has international distribution rights.

The series is based on an acclaimed novel by Lawrence Hill, which has sold more than one million copies worldwide. In the US it was published as Someone Knows My Name.

eOne’s executive VP, global production Carrie Stein has told TBI Negroes was “the ultimate slave story” that would be a “personal story with pretty broad backdrop”.

This year marks the 30^th anniversary of MIPCOM, the Reed MIDEM-organised international TV confab.

Watch the trailer here: