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SLAVE DRAMA: British actor Malachi Kirby (left) will take on the role of Kunta Kinte, originally played by LeVar Burton (right)

BRITISH ACTOR Malachi Kirby will be leading a new eight-episode reboot of Roots.

Kirby - who played Wayne Ladlow in EastEnders last year and also starred in Gone Too Far! and My Murder - has been cast as Kunta Kinte, an African who is sold into slavery in America

The miniseries, which will air on A+E, Lifetime and the History Channel, is based on Alex Haley's groundbreaking novel, nearly 40 years after it was first adapted for television back in 1977.

Laurence Fishburne previously joined the cast of the reboot, portraying author Haley.

LeVar Burton as Kunta Kinte in the original 1977 miniseries
Roots, based on the novel by Alex Haley

The original miniseries, which starred LaVar Burton as the slave Kunta Kinte, was a national phenomenon when it aired over eight nights in January 1977.

The final episode is still the third most watched telecast of all time - it attracted an estimated 100 million viewers, according to Nielsen.

The original show also made history with its 37 Primetime Emmy Award nominations and nine wins overall back in the 1970s.

Roots is due to begin shooting this month in South Africa and New Orleans.