Oscar-winner Cate Blanchett has signed on to executive produce and star in Mrs. America, a nine-episode limited series at FX, THR has revealed.
The series, from writer and showrunner Dahvi Waller (Mad Men), will explore the true story of the movement to ratify the Equal Rights Amendment, and the unexpected opposition led by a conservative woman called Phyllis Schlafly, played by Blanchett.
“Cate Blanchett is one the great actors of our time — and we are truly honored to have her star in Mrs. America,” said FX CEO John Landgraf. “We have no doubt that Cate is the perfect actor to play the role of Phyllis Schlafly, who was one of the most polarizing and fascinatingly complex figures of the ’70s for her opposition to and role in defeating the Equal Rights Amendment, which to this day has never been ratified. Dahvi Waller’s scripts are extraordinary, and I’m thrilled to reunite with my former Jersey TV partner Stacey Sher, and commend her on assembling such a dynamic foursome of gifted, female, artist-producers to take on this timely story.”
“I feel privileged to have this opportunity to collaborate with Dahvi, Stacey and Coco under the robust and fearless FX umbrella,” added Blanchett. “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.”
Mrs. America will mark the U.S. television debut of Blanchett, who will next be seen on the big screen in March 2019 in Richard Linklater’s Where’d You Go, Bernadette?.
