Naomi Watts has been cast as Gretchen Carlson in the upcoming Showtime limited series about former Fox News head Roger Ailes.
Watts joins previously announced cast member Russell Crowe, who will play Ailes. Carlson rose to prominence over a decade ago at Fox News, first as a co-anchor at “Fox and Friends” before going on to anchor her own show, “The Real Story.” She then became the first of multiple women to file a sexual harassment suit against Ailes after leaving Fox News.
The casting keeps Watts in business with Showtime, with the actress having recently appeared in the premium cabler’s revival of “Twin Peaks.” Watts is also known for her roles in films like “Mulholland Drive,” “I Heart Huckabees,” “Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance),” “St. Vincent,” “The Ring,” “King Kong, and “J. Edgar.” Watts also earned Academy Award nominations for her role in “21 Grams” and “The Impossible.” She is repped by CAA.
The series is based on Gabriel Sherman’s bestselling book “The Loudest Voice in the Room.” Sherman co-wrote the first episode of the series with “Spotlight” writer and director Tom McCarthy. Crowe and McCarthy will also executive produce along with Jason Blum, Marci Wiseman and Jeremy Gold for Blumhouse Television, Alex Metcalf, and Liza Chasin of 3dot Productions. Kari Skogland will direct the first two episodes.