Viola Davis is set to portray Michelle Obama in a US series under development about America’s First Ladies.
The Widows star is an executive producer on the project, which US network Showtime said will “peel back the curtain” on the lives of presidential spouses.
The first season will focus on Eleanor Roosevelt, Betty Ford and Mrs Obama, written by novelist Aaron Cooley, and is called First Ladies.
It will also show how many major political decisions were made in the White House’s east wing, where the First Lady and her staff are based. The Obamas spent eight years in the White House from 2008 to 2016.
Barack and Michelle Obama’s best couple moments
1/27 2004: Barack Obama’s victory over Republican Alan Keyes
In 2004, after beating Republican rival Alan Keyes, Barack and Michelle Obama bring their daughters onstage
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2/27 2007: Campaign Event in South Carolina
Oprah Winfrey cheers as Michelle and Barack Obama embrace onstage at a campaign event in 2007
Getty Images
3/27 2008: New Hampshire Primary
Michelle and then Senator Barack Obama embrace before his speech at the 2008 New Hampshire Primary
Getty Images
4/27 2008: Pamela’s Diner, Pittsburgh
The Obamas make a stop at Pamela’s Diner in Pittsburgh in 2008
Getty Images
5/27 2008: Campaign Rally at Indiana
The couple embrace at a Campaign Rally in Indiana in 2008
AFP/Getty Images
6/27 2008: Indiana Picnic
Barack makes Michelle laugh at an Indiana picnic in 2008
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7/27 2008: Primary Night in St. Paul
The Obamas bump fists at a 2008 election rally
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8/27 2008: Democratic National Convention Day 4
The Obamas at the DNC in 2008
Getty Images
9/27 2008: Campaign Rally in Miami
Barack and Michelle share a moment on stage at a campaign rally in Miami
Getty Images
10/27 2008: Colorado Airport
After arriving at Colorado airport in 2008, Michelle and her daughters greet Barack Obama
AFP/Getty Images
11/27 2009: Inaugural Parade
The pair giggle at the 2009 Inaugural Parade
Getty Images
12/27 2009: Inaugural Ball
The new First Couple hitch a ride in a golf buggy at the Inaugural Ball in 2009
Pete Souza/White House via Getty Images
13/27 2009: Inaugural Ball
The First Couple have a dance at the Inaugural Ball in 2009
Getty Images
14/27 2009: Inaugural Ball
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15/27 2009: Red Room at the White House
The couple embrace in the Red Room at the White House in 2009
Getty Images
16/27 2013: Commander in Chief’s Ball
The pair have a dance after Obama’s second win at the 2013 Commander in Chief’s Ball
Getty Images
17/27 2013: Commander in Chief’s Ball
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18/27 2014: White House Easter Egg Roll
The Easter Bunny gives the First Couple a moment at the 2014 Easter Egg Roll
Getty Images
19/27 2016: Easter Egg Roll at the White House
The Obamas get animated telling a story at the Easter Egg Roll in 2014
Getty Images
20/27 2016: Nordic State Dinner at the White House
Before meeting officials from Denmark, Norway, Finland, Sweden and Iceland in 2016, Michelle helps Barack adjust his bow tie
Getty Images
21/27 2016: White House
Before meeting Singaporean Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong in 2016, Michelle scratches Barack’s nose
Getty Images
22/27 2016: State Dinner for Singapore’s Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong
Obama gives his wife’s outfit a thumbs up before a state dinner for Singapore’s Prime Minister in 2016
Getty Images
23/27 2016: Halloween at the White House
Barack and Michelle dance to Michael Jackson’s Thriller on Halloween at the White House in 2016
Getty Images
24/27 2017: Donald Trump’s Inauguration
Barack kisses Michelle before President-elect Trump and Melania arrive at Trump’s inauguration in January 2017
Getty Images
25/27 2017: Donald Trump’s Inauguration
Barack kisses Michelle’s hand at the inauguration ceremony
Getty Images
26/27 2018: Presidential Portrait Unveiling
Barack and Michelle Obama pose in front of their portraits at their unveiling in 2018
Getty Images
27/27 2018: Presidential Portrait Unveiling
Barack gazes at the portrait of Michelle after its unveiling in 2018
Getty Images
1/27 2004: Barack Obama’s victory over Republican Alan Keyes
In 2004, after beating Republican rival Alan Keyes, Barack and Michelle Obama bring their daughters onstage
Getty Images
2/27 2007: Campaign Event in South Carolina
Oprah Winfrey cheers as Michelle and Barack Obama embrace onstage at a campaign event in 2007
Getty Images
3/27 2008: New Hampshire Primary
Michelle and then Senator Barack Obama embrace before his speech at the 2008 New Hampshire Primary
Getty Images
4/27 2008: Pamela’s Diner, Pittsburgh
The Obamas make a stop at Pamela’s Diner in Pittsburgh in 2008
Getty Images
5/27 2008: Campaign Rally at Indiana
The couple embrace at a Campaign Rally in Indiana in 2008
AFP/Getty Images
6/27 2008: Indiana Picnic
Barack makes Michelle laugh at an Indiana picnic in 2008
Getty Images
7/27 2008: Primary Night in St. Paul
The Obamas bump fists at a 2008 election rally
Getty Images
8/27 2008: Democratic National Convention Day 4
The Obamas at the DNC in 2008
Getty Images
9/27 2008: Campaign Rally in Miami
Barack and Michelle share a moment on stage at a campaign rally in Miami
Getty Images
10/27 2008: Colorado Airport
After arriving at Colorado airport in 2008, Michelle and her daughters greet Barack Obama
AFP/Getty Images
11/27 2009: Inaugural Parade
The pair giggle at the 2009 Inaugural Parade
Getty Images
12/27 2009: Inaugural Ball
The new First Couple hitch a ride in a golf buggy at the Inaugural Ball in 2009
Pete Souza/White House via Getty Images
13/27 2009: Inaugural Ball
The First Couple have a dance at the Inaugural Ball in 2009
Getty Images
14/27 2009: Inaugural Ball
Getty Images
15/27 2009: Red Room at the White House
The couple embrace in the Red Room at the White House in 2009
Getty Images
16/27 2013: Commander in Chief’s Ball
The pair have a dance after Obama’s second win at the 2013 Commander in Chief’s Ball
Getty Images
17/27 2013: Commander in Chief’s Ball
Getty Images
18/27 2014: White House Easter Egg Roll
The Easter Bunny gives the First Couple a moment at the 2014 Easter Egg Roll
Getty Images
19/27 2016: Easter Egg Roll at the White House
The Obamas get animated telling a story at the Easter Egg Roll in 2014
Getty Images
20/27 2016: Nordic State Dinner at the White House
Before meeting officials from Denmark, Norway, Finland, Sweden and Iceland in 2016, Michelle helps Barack adjust his bow tie
Getty Images
21/27 2016: White House
Before meeting Singaporean Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong in 2016, Michelle scratches Barack’s nose
Getty Images
22/27 2016: State Dinner for Singapore’s Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong
Obama gives his wife’s outfit a thumbs up before a state dinner for Singapore’s Prime Minister in 2016
Getty Images
23/27 2016: Halloween at the White House
Barack and Michelle dance to Michael Jackson’s Thriller on Halloween at the White House in 2016
Getty Images
24/27 2017: Donald Trump’s Inauguration
Barack kisses Michelle before President-elect Trump and Melania arrive at Trump’s inauguration in January 2017
Getty Images
25/27 2017: Donald Trump’s Inauguration
Barack kisses Michelle’s hand at the inauguration ceremony
Getty Images
26/27 2018: Presidential Portrait Unveiling
Barack and Michelle Obama pose in front of their portraits at their unveiling in 2018
Getty Images
27/27 2018: Presidential Portrait Unveiling
Barack gazes at the portrait of Michelle after its unveiling in 2018
Getty Images
Showtime said it is committed to three scripts, but there is no broadcast date because the series has yet to be ordered.
In 2017, Davis shared an image of the pair together with the caption: “May you continue to shine your light and impact future generations to come.”
Barack Obama and his wife launched a production company in 2018, and have announced deals with Netflix and Spotify.
Davis won her Oscar for best supporting actress in 2017 for Fences, and has also previously starred in The Help and Suicide Squad.
With reporting from Press Association
