[ad_1]
Michelle Pfeiffer has signed on to play the role of Betty Ford in the upcoming Showtime series “The First Lady”. Variety has learned. In addition, Susanne Bier is committed to directing and producing the anthology series.
Formerly known as “First Ladies,” the show is described as a reframe of American leadership, told through the lens of the women in the heart of the White House. Pfeiffer joins previously announced actor Viola Davis, who will play Michelle Obama. The first season of the series will also explore the life of Eleanor Roosevelt, with that role still to be played.
Ford was the first lady of the United States from 1974 to 1977 as the wife of President Gerald Ford. She was active in social policy and set a precedent as a politically active presidential wife and one of the most candid first ladies in history, commenting on every burning question of the time. She also raised awareness about drug addiction when she publicized her long-standing struggle with alcoholism and drug addiction.
“Michelle Pfeiffer and Susanne Bier have joined the brilliant and incomparable Viola Davis to put the remarkable stories of these women at the center of urgent, compelling and long-awaited attention,” said Amy Israel, executive vice president of scripted programming at Showtime. “Michelle brings authenticity, vulnerability and complexity to all of her roles, and Susanne is a visionary director who commands the screen with fierce honesty and a singular visual style. With these formidable performers in front and behind the camera, we couldn’t be more thrilled – especially at this unique moment for our nation – with the powerful promise of “The First Lady”.
Pfeiffer won a Golden Globe Award and won one of his three Oscar nominations for his performance in “The Fabulous Baker Boys”. She was also nominated for an Academy Award for the films “Dangerous Liaisons” and “Love Field”. She was also nominated for an Emmy for her role in the HBO movie “The Wizard of Lies”. She is known for her leading roles in films such as “Batman Returns”, “White Oleander”, “Scarface” and “Hairspray”.
It is replaced by CAA, Management 360 and Hirsch Wallerstein.
Bier recently directed HBO’s hit limited series “The Undoing” starring Nicole Kidman and Hugh Grant. She previously won an Emmy for her directing work on the AMC miniseries “The Night Manager”. His directing credits include “Bird Box”, “In a Better World”, “Love Is All You Need” and “Things We Lost in the Fire”.
It is replaced by CAA and Brillstein Entertainment Partners.
“The First Lady” is written and produced by Aaron Cooley. Davis is also an executive producer with Julius Tennon and Andrew Wang of JuVee Productions. Besides Bier, the other executive producers are Cathy Schuman of Welle Entertainment, Jeff Gaspin via Gaspin Media and Brad Kaplan of LINK Entertainment. It is produced by Showtime and Lionsgate Television.
According to someone familiar with the project, Schulman and Gaspin read a spec script Cooley wrote about First Lady Edith Wilson, which prompted them to reexamine White House families through the eyes of the First Ladies.
Related:
[ad_2]
Source link