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So Long, HBO: Lena Headey Is Headed to Showtime with a Brand-New Series

Ready the wine and inform the Iron Bank: Cersei Lannister is making her grand return to TV…kinda. Emmy nominated actress Lena Headey, who played Cersei in Game of Thrones, is set to star in a forthcoming pilot for Showtime called Rita.

Showtime announced the news today via press release and explained the hour-long series is a dramedy in which Headey plays Rita, a single mother and teacher who’s never met an authoritative role she hasn’t liked. The issue? She’s just a little bit too unfiltered.  

Jana Winograde, co-president of entertainment at Showtime, offered insight into the exciting new show in a statement, saying, “Rita is a deliciously subversive character who will make you laugh and cry as she continuously challenges the hypocrisy around her. It goes without saying that Lena Headey is a force, whose essence is ideal to take on this wonderfully dynamic lead role.”

In addition to starring in the pilot, which has yet to get picked up to series (fingers crossed it will), the 45-year-old actress will executive produce. Christian Torpe, who created the Danish series from which Rita is based, will serve as show runner and executive produce as well. Elisa Ellis will join them as an executive producer. 

There’s no word yet on what other actors have signed on to the project, although we hope it’ll end up as jam-packed with GoT stars as her upcoming Netflix animated series, The Dark Crystal: Age of Resistance. Headey’s new show on the streaming platform is said to be a prequel to the cult-classic 1982 Jim Henson movie, The Dark Crystal, and will premiere on August 30, 2019.

Speaking of Netflix, the original Danish iteration of Rita is currently available to binge, so you can tide yourself over with that.

At least we have a couple of things to ease the pain of Game of Throness end.

Reese Witherspoon Demanded a ‘Big Little Lies’ x ‘Game of Thrones’ Crossover on Twitter—and ‘GoT’ Just Responded



lex

Cat mom, yogi, brunch enthusiast

Lex is an LA native who's deeply obsessed with picnics, Slim Aarons, rosé, Hollywood history and Joan Didion. She joined PureWow in early 2017.