![The cast of "Shots Fired" at the Chicago viewing party. [Photo by Christian DaMar]](https://staticr1.blastingcdn.com/media/photogallery/2017/2/19/660x290/b_502x220x82/the-cast-of-shots-fired-at-the-chicago-viewing-party-photo-by-christian-damar_1155613.jpg "The cast of \"Shots Fired\" at the Chicago viewing party. [Photo by Christian DaMar]")
The United States, today, is rife with racial tension, officer-led shootings, and much more upheaval that could -- or should -- be imagined in modern times. And "Shots Fired," a new show that will debut on Fox on March 22nd, deals with all of these issues and more.
'Shots Fired' will premiere on March 22nd, right before 'Empire'
The husband and wife team of Gina Pryce-Bythewood and Reggie Rock Bythewood created "Shots Fired," which was initially picked up by the network back in December 2015, as a response to all of the violence. The show, which stars Sanaa Lathan in a leading role as Ashe Akino -- an "expert investigator" -- is set in a fictional town in North Carolina.
On February 15, 2017, "Shots Fired" gathered many members of the cast and crew to host a screening of their series in Chicago. Over 200 guests arrived at AMC River East 21 to preview the show, which stars Sanaa Lathan, Stephan James and Mack Wilds. After a pre-event reception, FOX 32 reporter Jake Hamilton greeted the audience followed by a message from Reggie Bythewood delivered by FOX publicist Jessica Wilson. "Shots" cast member Aisha Hinds and executive producer Francie Calfo were on hand to participate in a post-screening Q&A including Northwestern University professor E. Patrick Johnson and moderated by Ebony Magazine managing editor Kathy Chaney.
Because the show is set to premiere right before "Empire," "Shots Fired" is expected to do well in the ratings.
Most interestingly, American audiences will be excited to see Jill Hennessy, who will be playing the role of Alicia Carr, in the series. The Canadian actress and model is best known, and loved, for her performance as ADA Claire Kincaid on the original incarnation of "Law and Order," but she's been largely MIA from TV since then.
In addition to an all-star cast, "Shots Fired" will also have some special guest directors sitting in the chair for the upcoming episodes. Jonathan Demme, best known for his Oscar-winning work on the film "Philadelphia," will be directing the sixth episode of "Shots Fired," though the name of the episode hasn't been announced.
