Liu Xiaoqing is introducing U.S. audiences to Empress Consort Wu. The Chinese actress will star in and co-produce “Empress,” a TV series centered on the seventh and eighth century empress Wu Zetian, Variety reports. Liu has a long history with the Chinese sovereign. She’s portrayed her in four other productions, including “Wu Zetian,” a Chinese TV series broadcast in China in 1995. While a deal with a network hasn’t been finalized, the project is currently in development and expected to debut in late 2018.

“Wu Zetian was the only empress in China’s 4,000 year history and ruled during the two decades of the Zhou dynasty,” Variety writes.

Liu is teaming up with “Game of Thrones” executive producer Christopher Newman, Starlight Media, and K.Jam Media CEO Kia Jam on “Empress.” She was approached about developing the project by Starlight Media while she was touring her play about Wu Zetian.

“The Empress went through a lot of men, but she was loyal only to one, her husband,” the award-winning actress said. “There are two elements we didn’t show in the Chinese versions; her desire for killing and for sex. She killed all her ministers who didn’t agree with her.” It sounds as though “Empress” is best suited for a boundary-pushing cable or streaming network.

While it’s been many centuries since Wu Zetian ruled, Liu is confident that her story will resonate with audiences today. “Throughout the Empress’ story, I hope that audiences can realize that history and feminism can neither be ignored nor separated,” she explained. “It existed before and it will happen again.”

In 2015–16, only four percent of female characters on TV series were portrayed by Asian women. While it’s always refreshing to see depictions of female leaders, “Empress” is an especially noteworthy project because it features a Chinese protagonist.