Saniyya Sidney, Regina Taylor, Julian De Niro, and Evan Parke have been cast in Showtime’s anthology series The First Lady.
They join previously cast Viola Davis, Lexi Underwood, O-T Fagbenle, Michelle Pfeiffer and Gillian Anderson.
Created by Aaron Cooley, The First Lady will center on the lives of various first ladies of the United States of America. This series will 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. The first season focuses on Eleanor Roosevelt (Anderson), Betty Ford (Pfeiffer) and Michelle Obama (Davis).
READ: House Party Reboot Cast Jorge Lendeborg Jr. and Tosin Cole in Lead Roles
Taylor is cast as a series regular, portraying Michelle Obama’s mother, Marian Shields Robinson. She is a practical, forthright and honest member of the Obama family who encourages her children and grandchildren to behave honestly and remain grounded, even while living in the White House.
Sidney will recur as Sasha Obama, joining Underwood who has been previously cast as Malia Obama. Sasha’s pure spirit and empathy for children everywhere inspires her parents to stay focused on American youth.
Newcomer Julian De Niro will recur as Barack Obama during his early adult years as an emerging politician and passionate community organizer in Chicago. While he was there and working as a summer law intern for Sidley and Austin, Obama met and married Michelle Robinson. O-T Fagbenle will play an older Barack Obama.
READ: 15 of Regina King’s Most Iconic Roles
Parke is cast as SS Allen Taylor is Michelle Obama’s first and longtime security agent who became such a close friend that she often refers to him as being like a brother to her.
The series also stars Aaron Eckhart (Wander) as President Gerald Ford. Additional guest stars include Judy Greer as Betty Ford’s trusted confidante and social secretary Nancy Howe. Also Jayme Lawson and Kristine Froseth star as young Michelle Obama and young Betty Ford. Rhys Wakefield will guest star as President Ford’s Deputy Chief of Staff Dick Cheney.
READ: Post-Election Blues? 45 Loving Images of The Obamas to Get You Through The Day
Derek Cecil, Aya Cash, Jake Picking, Cayden Boyd, Marc Hills, Ben Cook, Leslie Rodriguez Kritzer, Thomas E. Sullivan and Patrice Johnson Chevannes also star in the anthology series.
Lionsgate TV and Showtime are producing the series. Davis executive produces the series with Susanne Bier, who directs. Cathy Schulman, Julius Tennon, Andrew Wang, Jeff Gaspin, Brad Kaplan are executive producing The First Lady . Series creator Cooley will write several of the episodes and executive produce.
The First Lady will premiere later this year.