The highly-anticipated new drama series “Unprisoned” is released on Hulu on 10th March 2023, and fans are already buzzing about the intriguing storyline and talented cast. The show follows the Alexander family, a Black family from the South, as they navigate the challenges of life after their patriarch is released from prison. The cast kept the family vibe alive at the premiere of “Unprisoned,” Hulu’s newest drama-comedy, on Thursday night at the Hollywood Legion Theater. Since Hulu is unavailable outside the US, fans can watch UnPrisoned season 1 outside the USA on Hulu.
Before showing the first two episodes, the show’s cast and crew, including Kerry Washington, Delroy Lindo, Faly Rakotohavana, Marque Richardson, Jee Young Han, Jordyn McIntosh, showrunner Yvette Lee Bowser, and creator Tracy McMillan, talked about what it means to be a “traditional” family on the red carpet.
Kerry Washington stars as Sylvia Alexander, a strong-willed lawyer determined to keep her family together despite their obstacles. Showrunner Yvette Lee Bowser has worked closely with Washington to craft a compelling narrative that explores the themes of family, resilience, and redemption.
The show is about a relationship therapist and single mom named Paige (Washington), whose life turns around when her dad (Lindo) exits prison and moves into her house to live with her and her teenage son. Fans were on the edge of their seats during Gripping Father-Daughter Drama with Kerry Washington and Delroy Lindo.
McMillan said, “I wanted to show a family that every person in America would identify with, even though they’re facing very specific circumstances. This is, at its heart, a father-daughter story. It’s a story about a woman with a teenage son who’s trying to repair the relationship with her dad, and everyone can relate to that.”
She also said, That’s certainly something showrunner Yvette Lee Bowser could relate to as “My father is an Edwin, so I know this guy.”
She added, “I really, really understood it on a personal level and felt like it wasn’t just my story and her story, but our story — an American story about healing.”
But the “Living Single” creator says what ultimately sold her was “the kind of authenticity and honesty with which Tracy wanted to tell the story and the amazing actors attached in Delroy and Kerry.”
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In fact, the family at the center of McMillan’s story is not typical, but the feelings explored in the different situations of the season can make anyone sad.
“Breaking the stories was a super cathartic challenge for all of us. It was really, really emotional,” Bowser said. “Our writer’s room was on Zoom, and it was also a very safe space, and there was a lot of emotion in the ideation for the show. You can only wish, as a producer that comes across on screen, that you have that translation from the page to the stage and the cast elevated the material at every turn.”
Before she went inside to join the audience, Washington reflected on the importance of giving people in jail a voice through stories.
“We tell a lot of stories about what it’s like to go in, what it’s like on the inside — but really excavating the journey of being a returning citizen, of trying to reenter into society is so important. And telling the stories of what it’s like to love somebody who’s a formerly incarcerated person is so important,” Washington said.
“I think this family’s such a great example because they are really trying to love each other and be the best they can and I’m so inspired by the characters on the show.”
Washington has worked with Onyx Collective on both of its original scripted series. The multitalented person is also an executive producer for Raamla Mohamed’s “Reasonable Doubt” and was responsible for the pilot episode. Washington and Mohammed have worked together on “Scandal” on ABC and “Little Fires Everywhere” on Hulu.
“I’m really proud that Onyx Collective exists and I’m proud to be a part of it. I think uplifting voices of people of color is so important and obviously relevant for who I am. I’m just thrilled to be a part of expanding inclusivity of the Disney ecosystem,” Washington added.
