Washington Black is a compelling, new, 8-episode limited series that masterfully balances showcasing the brutality of racism throughout history with the boldness of imagination for the future. Adapted from Esi Edugyan’s award-winning novel, the series follows the extraordinary journey of a young boy named Wash. Born into slavery in 19th-century Barbados, he escapes captivity across continents in pursuit of his freedom, identity, and belonging. A wild ride. (Read more below)

The Knockturnal sat down with the show-runners and executive producers, Selwyn Hinds and Kim Harrison, who opened up about the challenges of bringing such a layered story to the screen. I questioned what the biggest challenge in adapting Esi Edugyan’s 332 page novel to a limited series entailed. Maintaining the original novel’s integrity but also creating something not only visually but also emotionally compelling for screen is no easy feat. However, Hinds and Harrison carefully constructed a way to showcase the epic nature of Wash’s story with Hulu and Sterling K. Brown’s backing. 

When interviewing the EPs, the conversation quickly turned to one of the show’s most striking elements: its tone.

“We can’t ignore that Washington Black touches on intensely dark and heavy themes like slavery and systemic racism,” I noted. “Yet by episode 2, there’s a fantastical and whimsical element that’s introduced. How did you strike that balance between the harsh realities of history and the more imaginative, hopeful elements of innovation and discovery?”

Harrison replied, “It was a balance to let that dream, that inspiration, be what pulls him out of the darkness. And that becomes his guiding light…”

That crafted mosaic is what makes Washington Black as a limited series so unique. Wash may be a boy born into bondage, but he’s a dreamer, a scientist, an artist, and a survivor. His journey takes him from the fields of Barbados to the skies above dolphin-filled oceans, through a blizzard in the Arctic, to the markets of Morocco, and finally to his ancestral homeland of Dahomey.

Behind the scenes, the production team was just as ambitious. The EPs shared how much of the series was filmed on location, including in Iceland, which doubled for the Arctic. They emphasized the importance of creating what they called an authentic environment, even when that meant battling the elements.

The cast remembers those challenges fondly. One standout memory came from Ernest Kingsley Jr. (Wash), who recalled walking through a real blizzard with Eddie Karanja (Young Wash) to their food services in between takes in the middle of an Icelandic snowstorm.

Eddie shouted, “I can’t see! I can’t see!” Ernest laughs recalling.

He realized in that moment that they weren’t just acting; They were living the show. This bonded the two throughout the filming process immensely.

Karanja, who plays Wash in his early years, captured the heart of the story best when he said that even after everything Wash had been through, he still allowed himself to believe in something more for himself. He still had hope.

“It’s the fact that he tried to find love and joy throughout a world of pain. I thought that was inspiring,” said Karanja.

That love story becomes even more compelling with Iola Evans’ moving performance as Tanna, a young woman expected to marry William McGee (played by Edward Bluemel) to secure a better future. But Tanna is drawn to Wash from the moment they meet, and their connection unfolds despite overwhelming societal pressure. Their bond is heartfelt, tender, and hard-won.

“From Tanna’s perspective she wants to embrace her heritage; she’s so excited to meet someone like Wash who truly sees her but she’s also a bit short sighted in how much she understands Wash’s experience… They go through this journey of actually getting to understand each other…” said Evans.

Ernest Kingsley Jr. added, “with Wash and Tanna, it was important that the kind love at first sight was potent enough that even in the moments we were restricted it was clear as day that there was that yearning and love for each other.”

This yearning was palpable on screen, echoing the sweeping romance of something like Netflix’s Bridgerton, but with even greater emotional weight due to the brutal restrictions of race, class, and survival in this time period. A forbidden love story that prevails.

Interestingly, William McGee’s character (Edward Bluemel), who initially appears as a symbol of white male privilege, experiences surprising growth. Positioned as an obstacle between Tanna and Wash, William is bound by an arranged marriage he didn’t necessarily choose but is keen on having; shaped by a world that has taught him this path is his “duty” rather than his true desire. As the series progresses, he undergoes a transformation that gives the audience reason to empathize with him in unexpected ways.

I poked at Bluemel acknowledging audiences seem to really start to like his character, William, despite his positioning.

We see him have a genuine change,” said Bluemel.

“What’s so interesting about him is that there’s a real battle going on inside him that we watch play out. At the beginning he does start as this incredibly traditional sort of ‘product of the system’ and he really has an arrogance about him… he thinks he’s going to get exactly what he wants and then it’s his own desire to get married that is ultimately his sort of undoing… He does surprise you… As time goes on, he learns so much from her. (Tanna)… We see him have a genuine change,” said Bluemel.

The series also features Sterling K. Brown as Medwin Harris, a strong but emotionally complex mentor figure who works to protect Wash from those who seek to control or harm him. His storyline adds depth and emotional gravity, as he navigates his own painful past while trying to shape Wash’s future.

Hinds notes that Brown acted as a parental figure for the younger cast on set.

And Sterling was one of the parents… He’s exactly who you think he is.” -Selwyn Hinds (executive producer) on Sterling K. Brown when working with younger actors on set.

“We talk about one of the themes on the show being this idea of ‘found family’ and that was literally true for us…And Sterling was one of the parents. He was the person that people really found to be their emotional North Star… He’s exactly who you think he is,” said Hinds.

Ultimately, Washington Black is not just a story of survival. It is a story of reinvention, of imagination, of a boy who dared to believe in something bigger than the world he was born into. With the help of “Medwin” (Sterling K. Brown) and many others along the way.

You can watch this bold, visually stunning, and emotionally rich limited series Washington Black streaming on Hulu July 23rd, 2025. Watch the trailer here.