WENN/Instar/Johnny LouisIn addition to starring, the ‘How to Get Away with Murder’ star will serve as executive produce for the series which was given a straight-to-series order by the network.
- Feb 6, 2020
AceShowbiz – Viola Davis has been tapped to play a key role on an upcoming one-hour drama on Showtime titled “First Ladies“. The “How to Get Away with Murder” star is set to portray former FLOTUS Michelle Obama, wife of Barack Obama.
According to Variety, the show will feature a behind-the-scenes look at the experiences of women who have held the title of First Lady of the U.S. The first season will focus on the stories of Obama, Eleanor Roosevelt and Betty Ford.
In addition to starring, Davis will serve as executive produce for the series which was given a straight-to-series order by the network. The show hails from writer Aaron Cooley (novels “Four Seats: A Thriller of the Supreme Court”, “The Guns of Ridgewood”), Davis and Julius Tennon’s JuVee Productions, Cathy Schulman’s Welle Entertainment (“Otherhood“), Jeff Gaspin’s Gaspin Media (“L.A.’s Finest“) and Brad Kaplan (“The Intruder“).
Cooley pens the upcoming project, which is set in the East Wing of the White House. That’s where many of history’s most impactful and world-changing decisions have been hidden from view, made by America’s charismatic, complex and dynamic first ladies. The show aims to show the curtain on the personal and political lives of our most enigmatic heroes.
“Throughout our history, presidents’ spouses have wielded remarkable influence, not only on the nation’s leaders but on the country itself,” said Jana Winograde, President of Entertainment, Showtime Networks.
She added, ” ‘First Ladies’ fits perfectly within the Showtime wheelhouse of drama and politics, revealing how much personal relationships impact both domestic and global events. Having Viola Davis play Michelle Obama is a dream come true, and we couldn’t be luckier to have her extraordinary talent to help launch this series.”
Source: Television - aceshowbiz.com
