Julia Roberts and Sean Penn star are embroiled in the Watergate scandal in the trailer for the Starz limited series, Gaslit. The show is based on the untold stories surrounding Watergate during Nixon's presidency, including various conspirators, enablers, and whistleblowers that led to the truth being uncovered. Penn plays Nixon's Attorney general, John Mitchell, with Roberts playing his outspoken wife, Martha Mitchell. Martha was known for her uncensored candor with the press, becoming an influential figure, often referred to as "Martha the Mouth."
Gaslit is based on the podcast by Slow Burn by Leon Neyfakh, which traces the events of Watergate. The show is created by Mr. Robot's Robbie Pickering and in addition to Roberts and Penn, co-stars Dan Stevens, Betty Gilpin, Shea Whigham and Darby Camp. Originally, the series was to feature Joel Edgerton, who was also set to direct with his brother, Nash Edgerton, but both dropped out prior to production on Gaslit starting. Armie Hammer was also initially cast, but dropped out as well, with Stevens taking his role.
Starz has now released the first trailer for Gaslit, which looks to be a strong showcase for both Roberts and Penn. For Penn, the role is a transformative one, as he is featured in heavy prosthetics to portray John Mitchell, which is reminiscent of Christian Bale's transformation in Vice. Meanwhile, Roberts stars as the head-strong and captivating Martha. Gaslit is set to debut an April 24, 2022 and will feature eight episodes in total. Check out the trailer below:
Click here to view the video on YouTube
Roberts is an Oscar-winning actress known for her roles in films like Pretty Woman and Erin Brockovich. Penn is a two-time Oscar-winner, having won for his performances in Milk and Mystic River. Both actors have had long and distinguished careers on features, but have recently begun to dabble in TV and streaming. Roberts most-recently starred in Prime Video's Homecoming series and just wrapped the rom-com Ticket to Paradise with George Clooney. Penn starred in the recently-canceled The First on Hulu and just released his latest directing effort, Flag Day, in which he co-starred with his daughter, Dylan Penn.
Gaslit looks to be a tremendous acting showcase above anything else. Whether or not people are interested in revisiting the Watergate scandal, it seems secondary to the performances in this series, which will surely bring some great scene-chewing, especially between Roberts and Penn. The trailer alone teases that potential and actors tend to give it their all when transforming their traditional Hollywood looks to play real-life figures. Both Roberts and Penn have done this so many times in their careers, often taking home trophies and accolades as a result. Gaslit will likely have the same result for both the Hollywood veterans.
Source: Starz