TV One to Air Original 'Roots' Miniseries

In light of the news that A&E is remaking the classic miniseries Roots — with a cast that includes Laurence Fishburne, Anna Paquin, and Malachi Kirby as Kunta Kinte — cable network TV One has announced they’ll air the original six-part film in its entirety later this month. The “special enhanced” version of Roots will premiere on Sunday, Oct. 18 at 8 p.m. ET conclude Saturday, October 24.

Roots, based on Alex Haley’s Pulitzer Prize-winning novel about one family’s struggle through slavery, first debuted as a miniseries in 1977 on ABC, with a sprawling cast that included LeVar Burton, John Amos, and Ben Vereen. The movie became an immediate national obsession; its finale still holds the record as the second most-watched series finale in U.S. television history.

A&E’s remake of Roots is currently in production, and has no official airdate yet.

Roots will premiere Sunday, Oct. 18 at 8 p.m. on TV One.