Washington Black cast: Full list of actors in Disney Plus adaptation

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Disney Plus is adapting Esi Edugyan’s acclaimed novel, “Washington Black,” into a screenplay. The story follows the incredible voyage of a runaway slave who gets mentored by an unconventional inventor.

In this production, the main character is seen twice during different stages of his life – first as a young boy, portrayed by Eddie Karanja, and later as a mature adult, played by Ernest Kingsley Jr. The narrative weaves back and forth between these two periods, slowly unfolding the complete tale.

In this story, Tom Ellis and Sterling K Brown take on the roles of Titch Wilde and Medwin Harris, two wise figures who guide Wash during crucial points in his growth. Meanwhile, Iola Evans brings Tanna Goff to life, a character that captivates everyone around her.

Despite its deep-rooted connections to the violent past of the slave trade and colonization, Washington Black incorporates imaginative aspects reminiscent of steampunk and traditional adventure tales.

Get ready to recognize some well-known actors from Dune, Game of Thrones, and Sex Education, along with other outstanding talents – meet the entire ensemble as the series “Washington Black” debuts on Disney+. This is your comprehensive introduction!

Washington Black cast: Full list of actors in Disney Plus adaptation

Learn more about each character and their actors, as well as where they may have appeared previously.

This way, it’s more conversational and easier to read for the audience.

  • Ernest Kingsley Jr as George Washington ‘Wash’ Black
  • Eddie Karanja as young Washington Black
  • Tom Ellis as Christopher ‘Titch’ Wilde
  • Sterling K Brown as Medwin Harris
  • Iola Evans as Tanna Goff
  • Julian Rhind-Tutt as Erasmus Wilde
  • Billy Boyd as Willard
  • Ntare Guma Mbaho Mwine as Gaius
  • Edward Bluemel as Billy McGee
  • Sharon Duncan-Brewster as Miss Angie
  • Rupert Graves as Mr Goff
  • Shaunette Renée Wilson as Big Kit
  • Charles Dance as James Wilde
  • Blaine Dorey as Porter

Ernest Kingsley Jr as George Washington ‘Wash’ Black

The central character in this narrative is George Washington Black, often referred to as ‘Wash’. We delve into his remarkable journey, which begins with his childhood spent as a slave on a sugar plantation in Barbados. His adventures alongside the unconventional inventor Titch Wilde ensue, followed by his life as a scientist flourishing in Nova Scotia.

As a die-hard film enthusiast, let me share this fun fact: I, Eddie Karanja, take on the role of young Wash in the movie, while the distinguished Ernest Kingsley Jr portrays the matured version of the character we see on screen.

Has there been anything else that Ernest Kingsley Jr has appeared in on television or film? His screen debut was on the CBBC series The Sparticle Mystery, followed by roles in ITV’s Grace, Netflix’s The Sandman, and Fox’s War of the Worlds.

Eddie Karanja as young Washington Black

Has Eddie Karanja taken on any other roles besides that? (Answer: Yes, he has played young Jed Walker in Netflix’s The Sandman.)

Tom Ellis as Christopher ‘Titch’ Wilde

Who is Christopher ‘Titch’ Wilde? He is an English inventor from a wealthy background, known for creating advanced technology. When Wash’s life is in peril on the sugar plantation where he was raised, Titch assists him in making a daring escape, setting off an extraordinary journey that deeply affects Wash. Although Titch seems caring and holds abolitionist views, his actions towards Wash may cast doubt on his reliability.

Is there anything else Tom Ellis is recognized for acting in apart from his iconic role as the title character in the supernatural detective series Lucifer? Before that, he gained fame for portraying Gary, the romantic lead, in the widely appreciated British sitcom Miranda.

Sterling K Brown as Medwin Harris

Who is Medwin? Medwin is another mentor figure, who Wash meets later in life.

What other shows or movies has Sterling K. Brown appeared in apart from ‘This Is Us’ and ‘Paradise’?

In the large cinema screen, he received a nomination for an Academy Award in the category of Best Supporting Actor for his performance in the 2023 film “American Fiction”. Additionally, he played the character of Wakandan defector N’Jobu in the initial Black Panther movie.

Among his other notable works are Army Wives, American Crime Story: The Trial of OJ Simpson, and The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel. Beyond his screen appearances, he is also involved in the production side, serving as an executive producer for Washington Black.

Iola Evans as Tanna Goff

What can we say about Tanna Goff? She is a young woman, the daughter of an affluent Englishman. Although she has mixed racial heritage, her father urges her to conceal this aspect and try to blend in as a Caucasian individual, thinking it crucial for securing a wealthy suitor. However, Tanna finds this situation deeply troubling, and at the same time, feels frustrated by her father’s reticence to discuss her mother’s identity or the place of her birth.

Has Iola Evans been featured in any other projects besides Choose or Die and The 100?

Julian Rhind-Tutt as Erasmus Wilde

Erasmus is the affluent proprietor of a sugar plantation, where Wash and his mother are compelled to labor under his rule. He is a harsh individual, struggling to understand why his sibling, Titch, advocates for the abolition of slavery.

Has Julian Rhind-Tutt been in anything else aside from that? His notable roles span Channel 4’s hospital comedy Green Wing, BBC’s period drama The Hour, the debut of Inside No. 9, ITV’s cult favorite Harlots, as well as Man vs Bee, The Reckoning, and Ridley Scott’s Napoleon.

Billy Boyd as Willard

Who do we refer to as Willard? He is the manhunter, tracking down Wash after his flight from the plantation belonging to Erasmus.

What other productions has Billy Boyd been a part of after his role as the lovable hobbit Pippin in The Lord of the Rings trilogy? He can be seen in Outlander, Doom Patrol, and the DreamWorks animated movie Dog Man now.

Ntare Guma Mbaho Mwine as Gaius

Who is Gaius? Gaius is the estate worker at the sugar plantation. His imitation of the white residents’ speech and behavior, as observed by Wash, appears peculiar and disquieting.

Has Ntare Guma Mbaho Mwine appeared in any other productions? Here are some examples of his previous works: sci-fi series Heroes, Chicago-based series The Chi, Netflix’s legal drama The Lincoln Lawyer, and psychological thriller Dead Ringers starring Rachel Weisz. More recently, he has been cast in Dexter: Resurrection, a fresh take on the long-running franchise.

Edward Bluemel as Billy McGee

In simpler terms, who is Billy McGee? He is an affluent man from England residing in Nova Scotia, currently pursuing Tanna Goff romantically.

Apart from Killing Eve and A Discovery of Witches, Edward Bluemel has also been seen in other notable productions. He played Sean, the complicated brother of Maeve in Sex Education, and more recently appeared in Prime Video’s My Lady Jane and BBC Two sitcom We Might Regret This.

Sharon Duncan-Brewster as Miss Angie

Miss Angie is a lady whom Wash meets at a later stage of his life. She holds a special place as a dear friend for him in Nova Scotia, and she has a playful romantic relationship with Medwin that comes and goes.

Besides Sex Education, Sharon Duncan-Brewster has also appeared in other productions. Notably, she played Roz Marchetti in Netflix’s Top Boy, Cucumber, Years and Years, as well as Dune, Enola Holmes 2, John Wick spin-off Ballerina, and several more feature films.

Rupert Graves as Mr Goff

Who is Mr. Goff? He’s the father of Tanna, a young woman who is determined to keep her birth mother’s identity secret. He’s concerned for her well-being and desires to ensure her future security by arranging a marriage with a wealthy family, in his view, providing her safety.

Apart from the roles he played in “The Forsyte Saga”, “Sherlock” on BBC One, “Last Tango in Halifax”, period comedy-drama “Emma”, and Apple TV+’s “Surface”, is there any other production where Rupert Graves has made a significant appearance?

Shaunette Renée Wilson as Big Kit

Who is Big Kit? Big Kit is Wash’s mother, who is also enslaved on a sugar plantation.

Has Shaunette Renée Wilson appeared in any other productions? Yes, she is known for her role as Mina Okafor on the popular American medical series The Resident. Other roles include Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny and Karate Kid: Legends.

Charles Dance as James Wilde

What is known about James Wilde is that he is the father of both Titch and Erasmus. Notably, Titch takes great pride in upholding his father’s scientific reputation and legacy.

Apart from his iconic role as Tywin Lannister in Game of Thrones, Charles Dance has also made significant appearances in productions like Gosford Park, Bleak House, The Imitation Game, The Crown, and more recently, Sky’s adaptation of The Day of the Jackal.

Washington Black is available to stream on Disney Plus from Wednesday 23rd July 2025.

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2025-07-23 15:30