UPDATE: At its segment of the Television Critics Association (TCA) conference today, Fox brass announced that “Shots Fired” will launch on Wednesday, March 22 (8:00-9:00 PM ET/PT), followed by the spring premiere of “Empire” (9:00-10:00 PM ET/PT). So now you know; mark your calendars…
The prior announcement that “Shots Fired” will world premiere at Sundance this month follows below…
Examining the dangerous aftermath of racially charged shootings in a small Southern town, “Shots Fired” is a dramatic new event series from Gina Prince-Bythewood and Reggie Rock Bythewood.
The 10-hour event series is an explosive look at the criminal justice system. When an African American police officer kills an unarmed white college student, a small town in North Carolina is turned upside-down. Before the town has a chance to grapple with this tragedy, the neglected murder of an African American teen is brought to light, re-opening wounds that threaten to tear the town apart. Leading the Department of Justice’s inquiry into these shootings is seasoned investigator Ashe Akino (Sanaa Lathan) and a young Special Prosecutor, Preston Terry (Stephan James), both of whom are African American. As they start to pull back the layers of both cases, they suspect a cover-up that may involve some of the state’s most powerful people, including fiercely political North Carolina Governor Patricia Eamons (Helen Hunt). She’s in a tough re-election fight, and the recent shootings in her state are making it even tougher. Meanwhile, real estate mogul and owner of a privatized prison Arlen Cox (Richard Dreyfuss), is pulled into the case, as LT. Eric Breeland (Stephen Moyer), a seasoned veteran in the town’s Sheriff’s Department, gets caught in the middle of the investigation.
“Shots Fired” tackles the racial divide from all perspectives. As Ashe and Preston navigate the media attention, public debate and social unrest that come with such volatile cases, they learn that everybody has a story, and that the truth is rarely black and white.
The cast includes: Sanaa Lathan as Ashe Akino, Stephan James as Preston Terry, Helen Hunt as Governor Patricia Eamons, Richard Dreyfuss as Arlen Cox, Stephen Moyer as Lt. Eric Breeland, Tristan Wilds as Dep. Joshua Belk, Aisha Hinds as Pastor Janae James, Will Patton as Sheriff Daniel Platt, DeWanda Wise as Shameeka Campbell, Jill Hennessy as Alicia Carr, Conor Leslie as Sarah Ellis, and Clare-Hope Ashitey as Kerry Belk.
“Shots Fired” is set to premiere on Fox TV in the spring of this year, airing on Wednesday nights; but months ahead of that, the event series will make its world premiere at the upcoming Sundance Film Festival which runs from January 19-29. The Festival will premiere the first two episodes of the 10-hour series, which will be followed by an extended Q&A with members of the crew and cast.
From 20th Century Fox Television, Imagine Television, Undisputed Cinema, “Shots Fired” is executive produced by Gina Prince-Bythewood, Reggie Rock Bythewood, Brian Grazer and Francie Calfo.
Gina Prince-Bythewood and Reggie Rock Bythewood are both creators and writers of the event series, which Prince-Bythewood directs.
Watch a brand new trailer for the much-anticipated new mini-series embedded below:
