WGN America Cancels Pre-Civil War Drama UNDERGROUND After 2 Seasons

Variety reports that WGN America has canceled its pre-Civil War historical drama UNDERGROUND after two seasons. The series follows the lives of runaway slaves and abolitionists who fight for freedom and create what became known as the UNDERGROUND Railroad. The show was created by Misha Green and Joe Pokaski, who also executive produced alongside John Legend, Akiva Goldsman, Tory Tunnell, Joby Harold, Mike Jackson, Ty Stiklorius and Anthony Hemingway.

In a statement, Peter Kern, president and CEO of WGNA parent company Tribune Media, commented: "As WGN america evolves and broadens the scope and scale of its portfolio of series, we recently announced that resources will be reallocated to a new strategy to increase our relevance within the rapidly changing television landscape. This move is designed to deliver additional value for our advertising and distribution partners and offer viewers more original content across our air. Despite 'Underground' being a terrific and important series, it no longer fits with our new direction and we have reached the difficult decision not to renew it for a third season. We are tremendously proud of this landmark series that captured the zeitgeist and made an impact on television in a way never before seen on the medium. We thank the incomparable creators Misha Green and Joe Pokaski and the great John Legend, along with the talented creative team and cast who brought the UNSUNG American heroes of the UNDERGROUND RAILROAD to life. We are grateful to the loyal fans of 'Underground' and our partners at Sony Pictures Television. It is our hope that this remarkable show finds another home and continues its stories of courage, determination and freedom."

The series stars Jurnee Smollett-Bell ("Friday Night Lights," The Great Debaters) as Rosalee, the formerly timid and sheltered enslaved woman who was called upon to display untapped courage in order to escape North; Aldis Hodge (Straight Outta Compton, Hidden Figures) as Noah, the strong and charismatic leader of the infamous Macon 7. He sacrificed everything to get Rosalee and young Boo to freedom; Jessica de Gouw ("Arrow," "Dracula") as Elizabeth Hawkes, an Ohio socialite turned dedicated abolitionist who is driven by a sense of morality; Alano Miller (Loving, "Atlanta") as Cato, a cunning and calculating member of the Macon 7 who is always looking out for number one; Christopher Meloni ("Law & Order: Special Victims Unit," "Sin City: A Dame to Kill For") as August Pullman, a lone wolf slave catcher who walks a tightrope between morality and survival; Amirah Vann ("Girls," And So It Goes) as Ernestine, Rosalee's mother and formerly the head house servant on the Macon Plantation; and Marc Blucas ("Blue Bloods") as John Hawkes, an abolitionist lawyer who will break the laws he's sworn to uphold in order to serve what he knows to be right.