Elizabeth Banks Joins Cate Blanchett In FX Limited Series ‘Mrs. America’
Elizabeth Bankswill join her sisters in arms for equal rights in the FX limited seriesMrs. America, which is (sadly) not a sequel toMistress America. Banks joins theMrs. Americacast as Jill Ruckelshaus, a pro-choice, socially progressive Republican who was involved in the movement to ratify the Equal Rights Amendment during the 1970s in FX’s nine-episode limited series from Emmy-winning writer Davhi Waller. But she’ll be butting heads withCate Blanchett, who plays a prominent conservative who leads the unexpected backlash against the amendment.Varietyreports that Elizabeth Banks has joined the cast ofMrs. America, starring opposite Cate Blanchett in the FX limited series written and executive produced by Waller, who will also serve as showrunner. Blanchett produces alongside Oscar-nominated producer Stacey Sher. FX Productions will be developing the series which tells the true story of the Equal Rights Amendment movement. Here is the synopsis per Variety:
Other prominent second-wave feminists like Gloria Steinem, Betty Friedan, Shirley Chisholm, and Bella Abzug will also appear in the series which explores “how one of the toughest battlegrounds in the culture wars of the ’70s helped give rise to the Moral Majority and forever shifted our political landscape,” according toDeadline.
The star-studded cast also includesUzo Aduba, Rose Byrne, Kayli Carter, Ari Graynor, Melanie Lynskey, James Marsden, Margo Martindale, Sarah Paulson, John Slattery, Jeanne Tripplehorn,andTracey Ullman.
The stacked cast and the prestigious, but challenging, subject that comes right at the height of the #MeToo movement positionsMrs. Americaas a perfect Emmy contender. Banks is a solid comedic actress with a few forgetful dramatic roles under her belt, but this may be her ploy for awards love, especially playing a second-wave feminist figure like Jill Ruckelshaus. CouldMrs. Americabe the next big timely hit next year? We’ll have to see.
Filming is scheduled to begin this year, with Anna Boden and Ryan Fleck (Captain Marvel) directing the first two episodes.Mrs. Americais slated to launch in 2020.
