‘The First Lady’: What To Know About Showtime Series On Michelle Obama, Betty Ford, Eleanor Roosevelt

Showtime is gearing up to release a new series about some of the most important women who worked out of the East Wing of the White House titled “The First Lady.”

Viola Davis, Gillian Anderson, and Michelle Pfeiffer, who will portray former first ladies Michelle Obama, Eleanor Roosevelt, and Betty Ford, respectively, will be the focus of Season 1 of the anthology series.

According to Showtime, the upcoming series is expected to “peel back the curtain on the personal and political lives of three unique, enigmatic women, tracing their journeys to Washington through interweaving storylines with an enlightening intimacy.”

To prepare for her role, Davis, who also serves as an executive producer on the series, spoke with Obama and read her memoir to get into character.

“I feel very protective of Michelle,” the actress previously told Entertainment Weekly. “It’s our job as actors not to judge whoever we are portraying, but I ended up thinking she’s just dope.”

Roosevelt’s storyline will focus on her time as the longest-serving first lady. It was later discovered that Roosevelt exchanged 3,000 letters with journalist Lorena “Hick” Hickock, which led to questions about the extent of their relationship.

Ford’s storyline will explore personal addictions of alcoholism and substance abuse as well as her outspoken liberal comments on social issues, which did not sit well with conservative Republicans.

When the show premieres, viewers can expect to see several other notable historic figures. O-T Fagbenle will portray former President Barack Obama, Kiefer Sutherland will play former President Franklin Delano Roosevelt, Aaron Eckhart will portray former President Gerald Ford, and Dakota Fanning will play Susan Elizabeth Ford.

An official release date for “The First Lady” Season 1 has yet to be released. However, the show is expected to premiere sometime during the spring of 2022.