WGN America's highly anticipated scripted drama "Underground," premiering Wednesday, March 9 (10:00 p.m. ET/PT), will air commercial free on its premiere night, it was announced today. Set in a desperate and dangerous time, WGN America's Underground Railroad escape thriller, "Underground," from executive producer and Academy Award(R)-winner John Legend and creators and executive producers Misha Green and Joe Pokaski, tells the story of revolutionaries of the Underground Railroad who use their ingenuity, power and perseverance to attempt the greatest escape in history despite the dire consequences that awaited them on the other side. The ensemble cast for "Underground" includes: Jurnee Smollett-Bell ("True Blood," "Friday Night Lights"), Aldis Hodge ("Straight Outta Compton"), Christopher Meloni ("Sin City: A Dame to Kill For"), Alano Miller ("Jane The Virgin"), Jessica de Gouw ("Arrow," "Dracula"), Marc Blucas ("Buffy the Vampire Slayer"), Adina Porter ("The 100"), Mykelti Williamson ("Justified," "24"), Amirah Vann ("Girls," "And So It Goes"), Johnny Ray Gill ("Rectify"), Chris Chalk ("Gotham"), Reed Diamond ("Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D."), Theodus Crane ("The Walking Dead"), Renwick Scott ("Treme"); and Jussie Smollett ("Empire") who guest stars, marking the first time in 20 years he and his sister will appear in the same series.

PRINCIPAL CAST INFORMATION:
· Adina Porter as Pearly Mae
· Alano Miller as Cato
· Aldis Hodge as Noah
· Amirah Vann as Ernestine
· Chris Backus as Jeremiah Johnson
· Christopher Meloni as August
· James Lafferty as Kyle Risdin
· Jessica De Gouw as Elizabeth
· Johnny Ray Gill as Sam
· Jurnee Smollett-Bell as Rosalee
· Jussie Smollett as Josey
· Marc Blucas as John Hawkes
· Mykelti Williamson as Moses
· Reed Diamond as Tom Macon

RECURRING/PREVIOUS CAST INFORMATION:
· Devon Gummersall as John Hawkes (Originally Cast)

CREW INFORMATION:
· Akiva Goldsman as EP
· Anthony Hemingway as DIR (Pilot)
· Joby Harold as EP
· Joe Pokaski as CRTR/EP
· John Legend as EP
· Mike Jackson as EP
· Misha Green as CRTR/EP
· Tory Tunnell as EP
· Ty Stiklorius as EP