O-T Fagbenle is set to star as President Barack Obama in ‘The First Lady’ series

Fagbenle has been sworn in… to play the former POTUS.
February 25, 2021 4:46 p.m. EST
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Although fans might be used to seeing O-T Fagbenle as Luke on The Handmaid’s Tale, the talented actor is about to step into an exciting new (far less dystopian) role. Earlier today, Deadline reported that Fagbenle will play President Barack Obama in the upcoming anthology series titled ‘The First Lady’. Fagbenle will star opposite Viola Davis, who has signed on to play Michelle Obama.

The First Lady is described by Showtime as “a revelatory reframing of American leadership, told through the lens of the women at the heart of the White House.” Apparently, the first season will focus on Eleanor Roosevelt (played by Gillian Anderson), Betty Ford (played by Michelle Pfeiffer), Michelle Obama (played by Davis), and President Gerald Ford (played by Aaron Eckhart). That’s a pretty impressive cast list, if you ask us.

 

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Beyond his work on The Handmaid’s Tale, Fagbenle is starring opposite Scarlett Johansson in the May release of Marvel’s Black Widow. Notably, Deadline shares that Fagbenle recently made history as the first person to create, write, direct, compose, executive produce, and star in the pilot of a television series broadcast on a major network, with his show Maxxx. If you feel exhausted just reading that, well… same. Clearly, Fagbenle can do it all.

And for any fans holding out hope that Drake would land this iconic role, well… we are sorry

The First Lady, created by Aaron Cooley and produced by Lionsgate TV and Showtime, will be directed and executive produced by Susanne Bier, with Davis executive producing alongside Julius Tennon and Andrew Wang.

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