Alethea Jones is signed on to direct the live-action “Barbie,” but before she brings the iconic toy to the big screen she’ll tackle another influential force in the world of beauty standards. The Australian filmmaker is set to direct pageant dark comedy “Queen America,” Facebook Watch’s upcoming scripted series starring Catherine Zeta Jones. Variety confirmed the gig.
Set in Tulsa, Oklahoma, the series sees the Oscar winner playing Vicki Ellis, a ruthless pageant coach known as the best in the state. Known for transforming any girl into a winner, Vicky attracts desperate wannabees who dream of becoming pageant royalty. “But when she gets paired with the beautiful but unpolished Samantha, Vicki’s entire reputation might be at stake,” the source hints.
Meaghan Oppenheimer (“Fear the Walking Dead”) created “Queen America” and is writing and exec producing.
Zeta-Jones won an Oscar for her supporting turn in musical “Chicago” in 2003. Earlier this year she portrayed real-life Colombian drug lord Griselda Blanco in the TV movie “Cocaine Godmother.” The actress’ recent credits include “Feud,” “RED 2,” and “Side Effects.”
Jones made her feature debut with 2017’s “Fun Mom Dinner,” a comedy starring Toni Collette, Bridget Everett, Molly Shannon, and Katie Aselton. “I think we’re in a really special time where there are a lot of options to portray women in a more honest way, in a way that we haven’t seen before, and I want to keep being part of that,” she told us while promoting the pic.
“Barbie” is slated for release May 8, 2020 with Anne Hathaway in the title role. Jones directed an upcoming episode of “American Woman,” a new comedy inspired by “Real Housewives of Beverly Hills” star Kyle Richards’ childhood that will premiere on the Paramount Network tomorrow, June 7.
