New Trailer for Hulu’s ‘Washington Black’ Dives Into Escape, Survival, and Sterling K. Brown’s Powerful Role

A new Hulu series is coming this summer, and it brings a powerful and emotional story to the screen. Washington Black, based on the novel by Esi Edugyan, premieres on July 23, 2025. Hulu dropped the official trailer recently, giving viewers their first real look at what to expect.

The show follows a young boy named George Washington “Wash” Black. After a tragic event on a sugar plantation in Barbados, Wash escapes and begins a new journey. He ends up in the care of Medwin Harris, a man with a painful past of his own. Wash is played by Ernest Kingsley Jr., while Medwin is played by This Is Us star Sterling K. Brown.

Set in the early 1800s, the series moves between Barbados and Nova Scotia. As Wash tries to survive and find a place where he belongs, his bond with Medwin becomes central to the story. The show also dives into Medwin’s childhood, shaped by trauma and loss.

The cast includes several familiar faces. Tom Ellis takes on the role of Christopher “Titch” Wilde, and Eddie Katanga plays the younger version of Wash. Iola Evans appears as Tanna Goff, and other supporting roles are filled by actors like Julian Rhind-Tutt, Billy Boyd, and Charles Dance.

Sterling K. Brown doesn’t just act in the show, he’s also producing it. The series was written and adapted for television by Selwyn Seyfu Hinds, who shares showrunning duties with Jennifer Johnson. Directing the episodes are Wanuri Kahiu and Mo Marable. According to Deadline and Variety, the series was in the works for years, with Hulu officially greenlighting it in 2021.

Filming started in Nova Scotia in 2022, using real historic sites like Lunenburg and Halifax. The final scenes were shot in Mexico City, and the production wrapped in 2024. The series is produced by 20th Television, Indian Meadows Productions, and others.

All eight episodes will be available on Hulu in the U.S. when it premieres. International audiences will be able to watch it on Disney+.

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