The Handmaid’s Tale star O-T Fagbenle to portray Barack Obama in anthology series ‘The First Lady’

Viola Davis previously announced as pick for Michelle Obama

O-T Fagbenle at the 26th Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards on 19 January 2020 in Los Angeles, California (Gregg DeGuire/Getty Images for Turner)

The Handmaid’s Tale star O-T Fagbenle will portray Barack Obama in a new anthology series at Showtime.

The casting decision was revealed on Thursday.

The First Lady aims to focus on “America’s charismatic, complex and dynamic first ladies”, responsible for “many of history’s most impactful and world-changing decisions”, according to a description unveiled by Showtime.

Season on will focus on Eleanor Roosevelt, Betty Ford and Michelle Obama. Viola Davis was previously announced as the show’s pick for Michelle Obama. Davis is also an executive producer on the show.

On Thursday, Fagbenle shared a screenshot of a news report announcing his casting as the former US president and wrote: “Not sure what’s more of an honour, playing @barackobama doing a TV show honouring @michelleobama or getting to work with the inspirational @violadavis.

“Suffice to say I’m giving thanks and gonna give my best.”

Fagbenle has portrayed Luke Bankole, June’s husband, in The Handmaid's Tale since 2017.

According to Deadline, Michelle Pfeiffer will star as Betty Ford in The First Lady, while Gillian Anderson will portray Eleanor Roosevelt.