Aisha Hinds (All The Way) has been cast in the starring role of Harriet Tubman in the upcoming second season of WGN America’s hit drama series Underground.

Tubman was the Underground Railroad’s most famous conductor — revered for her grit, perseverance and unrelenting will to help scores of enslaved people reach freedom. Born a slave, Tubman was a devout Christian who, after escaping herself, risked her life again and again to free her family members and lead anyone willing to journey north across hostile territory to freedom.

The 10-episode new season of Underground follows an unremitting struggle for freedom within a divided America on the brink of civil war, each side vying to enact their own justice. Production on Season 2 begins Monday in Savannah, GA, for an early 2017 premiere.

Underground, from Sony Pictures TV, delivered 3 million total viewers weekly and was WGN America’s most-watched original program ever in its freshman season, according to the network. Joining Hinds for Season 2 are returning stars Jurnee Smollett-Bell, Aldis Hodge, Christopher Meloni, Alano Miller and ‎Jessica de Gouw. Amirah Vann, who recurred in Season 1, has been promoted to series regular for Season 2. Mark Blucas will guest star as John Hawkes.

Joining the cast in Season 2 are recurring guest stars Jasika Nicole (Fringe) as Georgia, an abolitionist with a covert station along the Underground whose quiet confidence hides secrets of her own; Michael Trotter (Rosewood) as Biographer, an astute observer of people who lives through the lives of others often fearful of taking chances; and Jesse Luken (Justified) as Smoke, the fearless second in command of Patty Cannon’s infamous gang of slave catchers. Luken is repped by Greene & Associates Talent Agency.

Hinds is known for her praised role as Fannie Lou Hamer in HBO’s Emmy-nominated All The Way, and will be seen in Fox’s event series Shots Fired and The Chi on Showtime. She’s repped by Greene & Associates Talent Agency.