From Game of Thrones prequel to fantasy adaptations and real-life stories, some of Hollywood’s biggest names are heading to television.
We know by now that with the rise of various streaming services like Netflix, Amazon and Hulu, among others, more and more film stars are joining television. It has changed the landscape of television, some would say forever.
But it seems Netflix is no longer the only one signing big names when it comes to television shows. Multiple Academy Award winner Cate Blanchett has just signed up to star in FX’s new limited series Mrs. America.
Written by Emmy award winning producer Dahvi Waller (Mad Men), the series counts as executive producer Academy Award nominee Stacy Sher and Coco Francini and Blanchett as co-producers. Production of the nine-episode limited series is scheduled for 2019 and Waller will serve as showrunner.
Mrs. America tells the true story of the movement to ratify the Equal Rights Amendment (ERA), and the unexpected backlash led by a conservative woman name Phyllis Schlafly, played by Blanchett. Through the eyes of the women of that era, the series will explore how one of the toughest battlegrounds in the culture wars of the seventies helped give rise to the moral majority and forever shifted the political landscape.
Speaking about the series, Blanchett said in a press statement, “I feel privileged to have this opportunity to collaborate with Dahvi, Stacy and Coco under the robust and fearless FX umbrella. I am extremely excited about delving into the material as there couldn’t be a more appropriate time to peel back the layers of this recent period of history, which couldn’t be more relevant today.”
Joining the foray of actors who have set their sights on television is actor Henry Cavill, best known for playing Superman in the DC Comics films such as Man of Steel, Batman versus Superman: Dawn of Justice and most recently the Tom Cruise-led Mission: Impossible – Fallout.
Cavill will lead the cast of a series called The Witcher and will essay the role of Geralt of Rivia. The Witcher, a Netflix series, is being produced by Lauren Schmidt Hissrich with multiple directors and will consist of eight episodes.
Based on the best-selling fantasy series, The Witcher is an epic tale of fate and family. Geralt of Rivia, a solitary monster hunter struggles to find his place in a world where people often prove more wicked than beasts. But when destiny hurtles him toward a powerful sorceress and a young princess with a dangerous secret, the three must learn to navigate the increasingly volatile continent together.
Apart from Blanchett and Cavill, Naomi Watts - who has some experience working in television - is set to star in the upcoming Game of Thrones prequel pilot that is coming from Jane Goldman and Game of Thrones author George R.R. Martin.
The anticipated untitled project is set thousands of years before the events of Game of Thrones.
The project Martin refers to as The Long Night chronicles the world’s descent from the Golden Age of Heroes into its darkest hour. And only one thing is for sure: from the horrifying secrets of Westeros’ history to the true origin of the white walkers, the mysteries of the East to the Starks of legend, it’s not the story we think we know.
Watts will play a charismatic socialite hiding a dark secret. Her character name has not been revealed.
One can only wait and see how these shows turn out but with such prolific names attached, television has become the most interesting medium.
–With additional information from Spoiler TV
