Washington Black cast and character guide: Who plays whom in the Hulu miniseries?

Based on Esi Edugyan’s award-winning novel, Washington Black is an eight-episode miniseries streaming on Hulu and Disney+ internationally. The show follows George Washington “Wash” Black, a young boy born into slavery on a Barbados sugar plantation, whose life changes drastically after he escapes with eccentric English inventor Christopher “Titch” Wilde.

Washington Black blends historical events with fictionalized adventure and light steampunk elements, moving across countries and spanning several years. Wash's story shifts from the Caribbean to the Arctic and Nova Scotia, while focusing on his journey from trauma to scientific discovery.

Ernest Kingsley Jr. plays the older Wash, while Eddie Karanja appears as his younger self. Tom Ellis plays Titch, whose motivations are never simple. Sterling K. Brown, who also executive produces the series, appears as Medwin Harris, another mentor Wash meets later. Iola Evans portrays Tanna Goff, a young woman grappling with racial identity and social pressure.

Other key cast members of Washington Black include Julian Rhind-Tutt, Sharon Duncan-Brewster, Billy Boyd, Rupert Graves, Shaunette Renée Wilson, and Charles Dance. The show balances themes of freedom, belonging, and accountability, without avoiding the harsh truths of slavery or romanticizing the era. It premiered on July 23, 2025, and is currently streaming worldwide.

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Every major character in Washington Black and the actors who play them

Ernest Kingsley Jr as George Washington “Wash” Black

Kingsley Jr plays the older version of Wash, the main character of Washington Black. Wash starts off as a young enslaved boy on a Barbados sugar plantation and later becomes a self-taught scientist in Nova Scotia. The role shows his evolution over time — his fear, his curiosity, and the way he processes the people who try to shape his life.

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Eddie Karanja as Young Wash

Karanja plays Wash during his childhood days on the plantation. These scenes cover some of the show’s most traumatic moments, including the early stages of his escape and his relationship with Titch.

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Tom Ellis as Christopher “Titch” Wilde

Ellis plays Titch, an English inventor who helps Wash escape. He comes from a wealthy family but doesn’t align with their values. He sees himself as morally upright, but his actions often leave Wash confused and frustrated.

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Sterling K. Brown as Medwin Harris

Brown plays Medwin, a mentor Wash meets later. He is intelligent and thoughtful, and gives Wash the emotional support he never really got from Titch. Brown also executive produces the series.

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Iola Evans as Tanna Goff

Evans plays Tanna, the daughter of a white Englishman. She is mixed race but her father forces her to pretend otherwise. She wants to know the truth about her mother and struggles with being told to pass for someone she is not.

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Julian Rhind-Tutt as Erasmus Wilde

Rhind-Tutt plays Erasmus, Titch’s older brother. He owns the sugar plantation where Wash grows up and is harsh, dismissive, and openly cruel. His scenes highlight the brutal reality of slavery.

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Billy Boyd as Willard

Boyd plays Willard, a bounty hunter. After Wash escapes, Willard is hired to track him down. He doesn’t get a lot of screen time, but his presence raises the tension whenever he appears.

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Ntare Guma Mbaho Mwine as Gaius

Mwine plays Gaius, a Black man who works for Erasmus. He mimics the white family’s behavior, which disturbs Wash. His character is a subtle reminder of how survival sometimes means losing a part of yourself.

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Edward Bluemel as Billy McGee

Bluemel plays Billy, a wealthy Englishman living in Nova Scotia. He is romantically interested in Tanna. Wash doesn’t trust him, partly because of how Billy tries to act progressive without understanding what Tanna really faces.

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Sharon Duncan-Brewster as Miss Angie

Duncan-Brewster plays Miss Angie, a kind and grounded woman Wash meets in Nova Scotia. She’s one of the few people who treats him without an agenda. She also shares a warm, complicated connection with Medwin.

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Rupert Graves as Mr Goff

Graves plays Mr Goff, Tanna’s father. He is obsessed with appearances and hides the truth about Tanna’s mother. His goal is to marry Tanna into a wealthy family, even if that means lying about who she is.

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Shaunette Renée Wilson as Big Kit

Wilson plays Big Kit, Wash’s mother. She is enslaved on the plantation and fiercely protective of Wash. Their bond is deep, and her absence shapes a lot of Wash’s decisions later in life.

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Charles Dance as James Wilde

Dance plays Titch’s father, James Wilde. He is a scientist with a strict reputation. Titch wants his approval but also rejects his worldview. Their dynamic is strained, and it plays a role in why Titch helps Wash.

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Blaine Dorey as Porter

Dorey appears in a supporting role as Porter. He doesn’t have major story arcs, but serves as a minor character tied to the broader journey Wash takes across regions.

Each actor plays a specific piece in Wash’s journey. No one’s role feels thrown in, and every performance connects to the bigger picture of what Wash is going through at different points in his life.

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