Hulu's Washington Black trailer teases Sterling K. Brown going on a global adventure in the 19th century

Hulu’s first look at Washington Black opens on a lush Barbados sugar plantation, where 11-year-old George Washington “Wash” Black learns about science from his sister’s suitor. When a “harrowing incident forces Wash to flee,” he leaps into a hot-air balloon and begins a globe-trotting escape. From Caribbean fields to icy Nova Scotian shores, this trailer sets the stage for an emotional adventure.

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Sterling K. Brown guides Wash through danger and discovery

Sterling K. Brown plays Medwin Harris, the man who rescues Wash and teaches him to survive outside the plantation. Brown, who also executive produces Washington Black, brings a calm strength to the role.

His character tells Wash, “It is time to fly,” just before they lift off in a hybrid balloon-blimp vehicle. That moment highlights how science and courage carry Wash into the unknown.

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Young actor brings heart to the title character

Ernest Kingsley Jr. portrays the young Wash with wide-eyed curiosity. In every scene, Washington Black shows his natural drive to experiment, whether mixing chemicals or plotting their next moves. With each new landscape, from tropical skies to snow-covered towns, Wash’s wonder shines through. His journey frames the series as both a personal quest and a study in friendship and growth.

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Ensemble cast expands the story’s horizons

Alongside Brown and Kingsley, Washington Black stars include Rupert Graves, Iola Evans, Edward Bluemel, Sharon Duncan-Brewster, Eddie Karanja, and Tom Ellis.

Ellis’s character gives Wash tools to build his inventions, reinforcing themes of mentorship and teamwork. This mix of familiar faces and fresh talent adds layers to the story, showing how different people shape Wash’s ideas about freedom and belonging.

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Production team honors the bestselling source material

The series adapts Esi Edugyan’s award-winning novel, with showrunner Selwyn Seyfu Hinds writing and directing alongside Mo Marable. Indian Meadow Productions, The Gotham Group, and 20th Television produce Washington Black.

Sterling K. Brown joins Ellen Goldsmith-Vein, Wanuri Kahiu, and Mo Marable as executive producers, ensuring the show stays true to the book’s mix of history and imagination.

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Filming spanned two continents to capture authentic settings

The crew filmed in Nova Scotia, where they filmed some scenes in its historical towns, and completed shooting in Mexico City on September 18, 2024, to recapture Barbados and Canada in the 19th century.

All these geographical settings make Washington Black come alive, in the humid plantations and cool seaports. The realism of the setting around the story gets us grounded in the more fantastic aspects of the story, such as flight on balloons and dramatic escapes.

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Series release invites viewers into a new kind of period drama

The eight episodes of Washington Black will release on July 23, 2025, on Hulu in the United States and Disney+ outside the country. The trailer contains a series that promises an action-packed piece sprinkled with heart and historical authenticity, but not the rosy image of slavery.

Washington Black is an exhilarating adventure packed with significance. It reflects upon freedom and identity in a world that runs freer than it used to.