Almost exactly a year ago today, it was reported that “Mr. Robot” creator Sam Esmail was teaming up with Julia Roberts, Sean Penn, Joel Edgerton, and Armie Hammer to create a new political thriller series, “Gaslit.” Well, we now have more information about the show, including the network that will debut it. However, it appears that some things have changed over the past year.
According to Starz, the network has picked up Esmail’s “Gaslit.” The limited series is set to star Roberts and Penn, as previously reported. “Gaslit” tells the story of the Watergate scandal from the point of view of Nixon’s Attorney General, John Mitchell (Penn), and his wife Martha Mitchell (Roberts). The show follows Martha, as the first person to publicly talk about Nixon’s involvement in Watergate and her husband’s position being stuck between his love of his wife and his loyalty to the President.
What you might have noticed from that description and cast list, it appears that Starz and Esmail are expected to recast the roles that were originally assigned to Hammer and Edgerton. Hammer’s involvement was reportedly ended after his recent cannibal scandal (yes, a cannibal scandal), while Edgerton is dealing with scheduling conflicts that force him out of the picture, per Variety.
“In ‘Gaslit,’ we not only have the opportunity to tell an incredible untold story in bringing Martha Mitchell’s historic role in Watergate to the forefront, but we are also incredibly lucky to have a dream cast including Julia and Sean and the best creative team and partners we could have asked for,” said Christina Davis, President of Original Programming for Starz. “We could not be more excited to bring this story to the global Starz audience and continue the network’s commitment to spotlighting premium stories that appeal to women while super serving our core audience.”
Showrunner and executive producer Robbie Pickering added, “I’m so happy to have the opportunity to share the heartbreaking, fascinating story of Martha Mitchell with the world. Martha was the first and loudest voice to speak out against the bumbling criminality of a crooked Presidential administration and she was one of the most complicated public martyrs of the era. To find anyone willing to tell her story is a dream. To be making it with Sam, Julia, Sean, Matt, UCP and Starz seems impossible. I’m over the moon.”
Of course, it’s too early to know when “Gaslit” might debut on Starz but the show is expected to go into production this spring. Perhaps that means it could sneak into TV schedules before the end of the year? More likely, this will be arriving in early 2022.
Here’s the synopsis:
The story will center on Martha Mitchell, played by Roberts. A big personality with an even bigger mouth, Martha is a celebrity Arkansan socialite and wife to Nixon’s loyal Attorney General, John Mitchell, played by Penn. Despite her party affiliation, she’s the first person to publicly sound the alarm on Nixon’s involvement in Watergate, causing both the Presidency and her personal life to unravel. As Attorney General, Mitchell is Nixon’s most trusted advisor and best friend. Temperamental, foulmouthed and ruthless – yet hopelessly in love with his famously outspoken wife – he’ll be forced to choose between Martha and the President.