The first trailer for the Roots remake has arrived, promising a gritty retelling of the 1977 original. A+E Networks announced today that the eight-hour-long miniseries will launch on, fittingly, Memorial Day, airing for four nights as it tells the history of an enslaved American family across several generations.

The new Roots, which was announced last year, is certainly timely, coming in the midst of an outsized conversation about race in America and in media. "Nearly 40 years ago I had the privilege to be a part of an epic television event that started an important conversation in America," LeVar Burton, co-executive producer and the original Kunta Kinte, said in an official statement. "I am incredibly proud to be a part of this new retelling and start the dialogue again, at a time when it is needed more than ever."

The miniseries features a star-studded cast, including Forest Whitaker, Laurence Fishburne, Anna Paquin, and Jonathan Rhys Meyers. Malachi Kirby is filling the iconic role of Kunta Kinte this year. Roots premieres on A&E, Lifetime, and the History Channel on May 30th.