Watch the suspense-filled trailer for the Harriet Tubman biopic [Video]

The trailer for the much anticipated Harriet movie, which is based off the life of charismatic and fearless abolitionist, civil rights activist and Underground Railroad conductor Harriet Tubman has finally been released.

Starring talented British actress Cynthia Erivo as Tubman, the trailer starts with her escaping to freedom from her slavemaster who is also in hot pursuit of her. The next scene shows her being ambushed at a bridge with both paths blocked, but instead of surrendering, she exclaims: “I’mma be free or die” before jumping into a river below.

Tubman successfully covers 100 miles to gain her freedom and meets abolitionist William Still, who is played by Leslie Odom Jr. To mark her freedom, Still asks Tubman, who was born Araminta Ross if she wants to change her name to which chooses Harriet Tubman.

The subsequent scenes show Tubman expressing her desire to go back and help free her enslaved brothers and sisters from captivity as well as her exploits while doing so. She is also finally introduced to the Underground Railroad by Still.

The release of the suspense-filled trailer was also accompanied with a synopsis which reads:

Based on the thrilling and inspirational life of an iconic American freedom fighter, HARRIET tells the extraordinary tale of Harriet Tubman’s escape from slavery and transformation into one of America’s greatest heroes. Her courage, ingenuity, and tenacity freed hundreds of slaves and changed the course of history.

The movie also stars Janelle Monáe, Jennifer Nettles, Clarke Peters and Joe Alwyn and is directed by Kasi Lemmons.

“This is the story of a seemingly powerless woman who accomplished the extraordinary to save her loved ones, and in the process became a leader of and inspiration for her people,” producers Debra Martin Chase and Daniela Taplin Lundberg told Slash Film about Harriet. “While Harriet Tubman is a household name, most people don’t know the breadth of her story — not only was she a conductor on the Underground Railroad, but she was a spy for the Union army and remains one of the few women to have led an armed expedition in U.S. history.”

The movie is set to be released in theatres on November 1.

Take a look at the trailer below: