“In four years, I don’t want to look back and think what did I become living in that house,” Viola Davis tells O-T Fagbenle in the trailer for Showtime’s newest show. ‘That house’ turns out to be the White House and Davis and Fagbenle are set to star as Michelle and Barack Obama respectively.
Joining them in The First Lady are other famous faces playing other presidential ‘better halves’ in two different timelines, including Gillian Anderson as Eleanor Roosevelt and Michelle Pfeiffer as Betty Ford. Aaron Eckhart and Kiefer Sutherland will portray Presidents Ford and Roosevelt respectively. Judy Greer, Eliza Scanlen, Ellen Burstyn and Dakota Fanning fill out the rest of the supportive cast.
The Showtime series is described as follows:
A revelatory reframing of American leadership through the lens of the First Ladies… This series delves deep into the Ladies’ personal and political lives. Exploring everything from their journeys to Washington, family life, and world-changing political contributions, the impact of the White House’s women is no longer hidden from view.
From the trailer, it seems as Eleanor Roosevelt’s sexuality and Betty Ford’s substance abuse issues will be addressed. We will also get an inside look at Michelle Obama’s struggle to find her place as a first lady despite discrimination.
The First Lady will air on Showtime April 17.
