Stevie Wonder has confirmed plans to produce a new TV mini-series and Broadway musical about the Underground Railroad.

The mini-series, tentatively titled Freedom Run, will be a co-production of NBC, according to NBC chairman Bob Greenblatt, who broke the news in a statement at the Television Critics Association.

According to Rolling Stone, it will be an eight-hour series and will be based on the book Forbidden Fruit: Love Stories From the Underground Railroad by Betty De Ramus.

"We're increasingly looking for projects that qualify as television events and these harrowing true stories of courageous young men and women who found love, in spite of the heinousness of slavery, certainly does that," Greenblatt told the TCA panel.

"Furthermore, the idea of also developing this into a Broadway musical with Stevie Wonder is very exciting as we look to expand the scope of our live stage business.

We're thrilled that these producers wanted to bring this important project to us."