Viola Davis has been cast as Michelle Obama in a new Showtime series

Viola Davis.
(Image credit: TOLGA AKMEN/AFP/Getty Images)

Viola Davis is preparing to go high, not low, for her next TV performance.

The award-winning actress will portray former first lady Michelle Obama in the new Showtime anthology series First Ladies, Variety and The Hollywood Reporter report. This upcoming show is set to follow the lives of several first ladies, with other episodes focusing on Eleanor Roosevelt and Betty Ford. It doesn't yet have a series order, with Showtime having committed to three scripts.

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Brendan Morrow

Brendan worked as a culture writer at The Week from 2018 to 2023, covering the entertainment industry, including film reviews, television recaps, awards season, the box office, major movie franchises and Hollywood gossip. He has written about film and television for outlets including Bloody Disgusting, Showbiz Cheat Sheet, Heavy and The Celebrity Cafe.