Catherine Zeta-Jones has a new title: Queen America. The Oscar-winning actress has signed on to star in a new Facebook Watch series from Meaghan Oppenheimer (“Fear the Walking Dead”), Deadline confirms. “Queen America” — which has received a 10-episode straight-to-series order — sees Zeta-Jones playing Vicki Ellis, a merciless Midwestern pageant coach.
Created and written by Oppenheimer, “Queen America” is set in Tulsa, Oklahoma. The dark comedy centers on Vicki’s relationship with Miss America wannabe Samantha Stone. “Vicki is desperately sought after by young women competing to be Miss America for one reason: she can turn any girl into a winner,” the source teases. “But when she gets paired with the beautiful but unpolished Samantha, Vicki’s entire reputation might be at stake.”
Joining Oppenheimer as exec producers are Made Up Stories’ Bruna Papandrea and Casey Haver.
Oppenheimer and Papandrea previously collaborated on the ABC pilot “Broken.” Both women exec produced and Oppenheimer served as writer. Oppenheimer’s other screenwriting credits include the feature “We Are Your Friends.” Papandrea has produced projects such as “Big Little Lies,” “Gone Girl,” and “Wild.” TNT mystery drama “Deadlier Than the Male” and a series adaptation of Allison Pearson’s “How Hard Can It Be?” are among the projects currently on her slate.
“I’m so excited to be making this show, set in my hometown of Tulsa, Oklahoma — and beyond grateful to be partnered again with Bruna Papandrea, who has championed this project from its earliest stages and proven to be one of the biggest supporters of women in the industry,” said Oppenheimer. “To have one of my favorite actresses, Catherine Zeta-Jones, bringing this character to life is a dream come true.”
“Meaghan Oppenheimer is an incredible talent and we knew we had to bring this show to the world the second she first pitched us the idea. We are so excited to be collaborating with her, Facebook, and the incredible Catherine Zeta-Jones on this project,” added Papandrea.
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.”
In February Elizabeth Olsen signed on to another upcoming Facebook Watch show, “Sorry for Your Loss.” The half-hour dramedy from Kit Steinkellner follows a young widow as she revisits her former relationships. Watch is also home to “Loosely Exactly Nicole,” starring comedian Nicole Byer. The semi-autobiographical comedy began on MTV and, after being cancelled, was picked up by Facebook last summer.
