According to Deadline, Leslie Mann (Blockers, Motherless Brooklyn) has officially signed on for the lead role in Amazon Prime Video‘s forthcoming series adaptation of The Power, based on award-winning author Naomi Alderman’s 2016 thriller sci-fi drama novel of the same name. Set to debut in more than 200 countries, the project will be Mann’s first major TV role.
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Created by Alderman, The Power series is a 10-episode feminist thriller which will be told in a subversive and multi-stranded narrative. It tells the story of when all teenage girls in the world suddenly gain the power to electrocute people at will. They soon discover that their newfound ability is something that is hereditary, inbuilt and impossible to take away.
The book’s official synopsis reads: “The world is a recognizable place: there’s a rich Nigerian boy who lounges around the family pool; a foster kid whose religious parents hide their true nature; an ambitious American politician; a tough London girl from a tricky family. But then a vital new force takes root and flourishes, causing their lives to converge with devastating effect. Teenage girls now have immense physical power–they can cause agonizing pain and even death. And, with this small twist of nature, the world drastically resets.”
Mann will be portraying the role of Mayor of Seattle, Margot Cleary-Lopez, who is known to the public as a loving wife and doting mother to three kids. Vital, charming and incredibly smart, Margot comes to see that power resides with strength rather than authority. As her career takes flight, it’s her husband Rob and daughter Jos who privately feel the effects of her success most keenly; for one of them, where previously there was conflict now comes a greater understanding, and for the other where there was love, comes hurt and betrayal.
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Alderman will be leading the series’ all-female writers’ room and will also be co-writing the screenplay. It will be executive produced and co-written by Alderman, Claire Wilson, Whit Anderson (Ozark), Stacy Oseri-Kuffour (Watchmen, PEN15), and Rebecca Levene along with story consultant Sarah Quintrell (Ellen).
Pick up a copy of the book here.
The Power is a production by Jane Featherstone’s Sister Pictures (Chernobyl). The Handmaid’s Tale‘s Reed Morano and Naomi de Pear will also be serving as executive producers with Morano set as the director. The series will also be produced by Tim Bricknell.
