A new portrayal of Michelle Obama is heading to TV—with an Oscar winner slated for the role. Deadline confirms that the Showtime anthology series First Ladies has a straight-to-series order. Variety reported in August 2019 that Viola Davis would play the former First Lady in the show, which she and her partner Julius Tennon will also executive produce.
The series hails from writer Aaron Cooley and will follow the lives of former FLOTUSes Michelle Obama, Eleanor Roosevelt, and Betty Ford in its first season. Variety provides this description of the show:
"First Ladies will turn it lens on the East Wing of the White House, as opposed to the West, 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."
In a statement to Deadline Showtime Networks President of Entertainment Jana Winograde said:
“Throughout our history, presidents’ spouses have wielded remarkable influence, not only on the nation’s leaders but on the country itself. 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.”
The sixth and final season of Davis's ABC series How to Get Away with Murder, for which she won an Emmy in 2015, premiered on September 25. It seems that she'll be stepping into another high-powered woman's shoes soon after.
Davis does have some history with the Becoming author. Back in 2017, days before the inauguration, Davis posted a photo of herself and Obama, captioned, "@MichelleObama, may you continue to shine your light and impact future generations to come! #TBT."
In January, Davis wished Obama happy birthday and referred to her as, "My sis!" So it's safe to assume Michelle is as down with this casting choice as we are. There's no word yet on who will be assume the roles of Roosevelt or Ford in the upcoming project.
