T.I. Cast in 'Roots' Remake

Tip “T.I.” Harris has joined the cast of A&E’s remake of “Roots.”

The rapper-actor will star alongside Mekhi Phifer, James Purefoy, Matthew Goode, Lane Garrison, Emayatzy Corinealdi, and G. Hannelius in the four-night, eight-hour miniseries event.

According to The Hollywood Reporter, Tip will play Cyrus, a headstrong slave who fights for his freedom for the Union Army against Confederate forces.

He joins previously announced cast members Forest Whitaker, Anna Paquin, Jonathan Rhys Meyers, Laurence Fishburne, Anika Noni Rose, Chad L. Coleman, Erica Tazel, and Derek Luke.

The big-budget reboot of the 1977 original will air across multiple A+E networks including History and Lifetime. Directors include Phillip Noyce (Patriot Games), Mario Van Peebles (New Jack City), Thomas Carter (Coach), and Bruce Beresford (Driving Miss Daisy). Questlove serves as executive music producer.

T.I.’s recent acting credits include the superhero film Ant-Man and the Will Ferrell and Kevin Hart comedy Get Hard. He also stars in Ride Along 2, hitting theaters in January.