AMC's new crime thriller series 61st Street premiered last night in the US, starring Tosin Cole as Moses Johnson. The series tells the story of Johnson, a promising black high school athlete who is in the wrong place at the wrong time and gets caught up in a Chicago drug bust which ends in two deaths, including a police officer. The police attempt to pin the death on Johnson resulting in a court battle which exposes the dark heart of the Chicago criminal justice system. The show is named 61st Street after the avenue in which the police officer dies and Johnson's life changes forever.
The series also stars Courtney B. Vance as Johnson's lawyer, Franklin Roberts and Aunjanue Ellis plays Franklin's wife Martha. It is written by Silk and Your Honour writer Peter Moffat
When asked to describe the show Tosin said "It’s a catalyst for… political uproar, community uproar, system uproar. Someone losing their future and fighting for their future and as the story goes on fighting for their morale and his freedom. It effects so many different things. 61st Street man, it’s intense."
He went on to talk about playing the role of Moses Johnson saying, "How do you beat the impossible? Being a young black kid in the wrong place at the wrong time. We all know what the media are going to think and what it looks like. You never have time to explain yourself in that moment. We all know what the system does to people for much less. So I was intrigued to see what happens to him and his family".
The first episode of the intense new series aired on AMC in the US last night, Sunday 10th April, but the first two episodes are already available in the UK, with Episode 3 available from Tuesday 12th April, exclusively on BT TV and BT Player. New episodes will be available in the UK weekly every Tuesday at 9pm. A second series has already been filmed, consisting of another 8 episodes but no on-air date has yet been confirmed.
Watch the trailer for 61st Street here.
American born, British actor Tosin Cole is available for voiceovers from Anthea Represents. Click his image for his profile page and voiceover showreel.
