First, a quick recap for a project we first profiled in 2012, and have been following since then… Cuba Gooding Jr. stars in a drama that was initially titled "Something Whispered," was later retitled "Carry Me Home," and is now called "Freedom" (which is the name it’ll be released under), which tells a tale set in 1850, following a man named Samuel (Gooding), who attempts to free his family from institutionalized slavery, heading north towards Canada, via the famed Underground Railroad, intent on escaping from the tobacco plantation they have been forced to call their home for two generations.
Sharon Leal plays Cuba’s wife in a cast of many that also includes William Sadler as one of the other more prominent names. David Rasche, Terrence Mann and Michael Goodwin also feature.
Director Peter Cousens’ resume is full of lots of TV work, so I previously automatically assumed that it would likely be a made-for-TV movie, possibly going to one of the cable TV networks; but with a June 5 release date now officially set, a theatrical release is indeed planned via Arc Entertainment, with a VOD and digital component to go along with it.
The script was penned by Timothy A. Chey.
It’s worth noting that Leal also plays Cuba’s wife in what would have been a new Fox legal drama series titled "Guilty," which never made it to full series; although when we last reported on it, it appeared that it wasn’t entirely dead, as the network had reportedly remained interested in it, thanks to strong test scores for its pilot episode, which was directed by McG. It certainly sounded promising. We’ll see if it ever resurfaces.
It’s also worth noting that there are 2 event TV series in the works that also share the Underground Railroad as a key plot point.
For now, watch the new trailer for Heritage Films production, "Freedom," below:
