Michelle Pfeiffer, Oscar and Emmy nominee (French exit) will portray Betty Ford in The first lady (working title, fka First Ladies), Showtime Anthology, executive production by Viola Davis, who stars as Michelle Obama. Emmy and Golden Globe winner Susanne Bier (The Undo) will direct and produce series executives.
Co-produced by Showtime and Lionsgate TV, The first lady comes from writer Aaron Cooley, JuVee Productions by Davis and Julius Tennon, Welle Entertainment by Cathy Schulman and Gaspin Media by Jeff Gaspin.
The first lady it is a revealing revision of American leadership, told through the lens of women in the heart of the White House. Written by Cooley, it is set in the East Wing of the White House, where many of the most impactful decisions that changed the world of history have been hidden from view, taken by America’s charismatic, complex and dynamic first ladies. The series will open the curtain on the personal and political lives of our most enigmatic heroes, with season 1 focusing on Eleanor Roosevelt, Betty Ford and Michelle Obama.
Related Story
‘American Gigolo’: Lizzie Brocheré and Gabriel LaBelle join Showtime Pilot Reboot
Ford was the first lady of the United States from 1974 to 1977. She was active in social policy and set a precedent as a politically active presidential wife and one of the most sincere first ladies in history, commenting on all the controversial issues of Time. She also raised awareness about addiction when she made her long-standing battle against alcoholism and substance abuse public.
“Michelle Pfeiffer and Susanne Bier joined the brilliant and incomparable Viola Davis to bring the remarkable stories of these women to an urgent, engaging and long-awaited focus,” said Amy Israel, EVP, Scripted Programming, Showtime Networks. “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 unique visual style. With these formidable artists in front and behind the camera, we couldn’t be more excited – especially at this unique time for our nation – with the powerful promise of the First Lady. “
The idea for the series came up with Schulman and Gaspin, who were inspired by a specific script that Cooley had written about First Lady Edith Wilson. In line with the mission of Schulman’s Welle Entertainment company, which is dedicated to making content geared towards women, the series will reexamine families in the White House through the eyes of the first ladies.
Cooley produces with Davis, Tennon and Andrew Wang through their JuVee Productions, Schulman via Welle Entertainment, Gaspin via Gaspin Media, Brad Kaplan via LINK Entertainment and Bier.
Pfeiffer won a Golden Globe and one of his three Oscar nominations for his performance in The Fabulous Baker Boys. She received another Oscar nomination and a BAFTA award for her work in Dangerous connections. She received seven Golden Globe nominations for roles in Married to Mob for the Oscar nominee Love field and The Magician of Lies, for which she also received an Emmy nomination.
Bier recently directed HBO’s limited hit series The Undostarring Nicole Kidman and Hugh Grant. She won the Emmy in 2016 for directing the six-part AMC miniseries The night manager. In 2018, she directed the suspense Bird Box, starring Sandra Bullock, who at the time became the most watched movie of all time on Netflix. Her film In a better world won the Oscar and Golden Globe for Best Foreign Film in 2011, as well as Best Director at the European Film Awards.