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‘Empire’s’ Jussie Smollett heads ‘Underground’ opposite sister Jurnee Smollett-Bell

Photo credit: @jurneebell via Instagram
Photo credit: @jurneebell via Instagram

“Empire” star Jussie Smollett continues his Hollywood takeover.


The actor who rose to fame on the hit musical-drama has signed on to guest star in an episode of WGN America’s upcoming series, “Underground,” alongside his sister Jurnee Smollett-Bell. In the one-hour drama series, slaves band together for the fight of their lives as they set foot on the fabled Underground Railroad, the secret network of men and women who risked their lives aiding them and the mercenaries tasked with hunting them down at any cost.


Smollett will appear as Josey, a wild-eyed runaway slave who doesn’t trust anyone, not even the people stationed along the way who would try to help him. Smollett-Bell on the other hand has signed on as a series regular, in the role of Rosalee, a shy house slave with powerful inner strength and courage.

The gig marks the first time in 20 years that the brother and sister will share the screen. They previously appeared alongside their four other siblings on the series “On Our Own.” That makes this pretty epic!


Also of the 10-episode drama are Christopher Meloni (“Law & Order: SVU”), Aldis Hodge (“Leverage”), Alano Miller (“Jane the Virgin”), Jessica de Gouw (“Arrow”), Adina Porter (“The 100”), Amirah Vann (“Girls”), Marc Blucas (“Buffy the Vampire Slayer”), Mykelti Williamson (“Justified”), Reed Diamond (“Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.”) and Johnny Ray Gill (“Rectify”).

The show is slated to premiere in 2016.

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