Musical fans rejoice!American Horror Storycreator Ryan Murphy is getting back in touch with hisGleeful roots for the upcoming series The Politician for Netflix. The streaming service released the first images from the project.The Politicianis an hour-long satire spearheaded by Tony winner andPitch Perfect’slovable magician, Ben Platt.
It follows wealthy student, Payton Hobart (Ben Platt), as he navigates the political landscape of his Santa Barbara high school on a treacherous journey to become Student Body President, get accepted at Harvard, and ultimately become president. The dark comedy is full of moral conundrums, satire, and of course several musical numbers. In the words of the official synopsis.
Payton will have to outsmart his ruthless classmates without sacrificing his own morality and carefully crafted image…The Politician offers a rare glimpse into just what it takes to make a politician.
Returning to Murphy’s side for the two-seasonNetflixdeal areGleeco-creators Ian Brennan and Brad Falchuk as executive producers. The three creatives were also behind Fox’sScreem Queensthat only lasted two seasons. It’s not just Murphy’s behind the camera team that’s returning either. The formidableAHSalum Jessica Lange and frequentGleeguest starGwyneth Paltrow(Avengers: Endgame) will be joining Platt.
The legendaryBette Midlerwill also be lending her musical and acting talent as a guest star. The first images of the series give us a quick look at the glossed aesthetic we’ve come to expect from a Murphy production. With the characters' sleek appearances and the polished settings, the comedy is bound to be an off-kilter look at the political landscape.
This will be Murphy’s second deal with Netflix. He co-created the streaming service’sRatchedwhich is currently in post-production. The series stars Sarah Paulson and functions as an origin story for the villainous Nurse Mildred Ratched fromOne Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest. The producer has made quite a name for himself in his 20 year career. He has helmed some of TV’s most landscape changing programs.
Gleebrought the disenfranchised and outcasts to center stage for 121 episodes over the series of 6 seasons, while, on the opposite side of the spectrum,American Horror Storyput the anthology structure back into popularity through torture, murder and disturbing characters. He set aside the horror, but continued the anthology concept for the critically acclaimedFeud: Bette and Joanand his announced #MeToo inspiredConsent. His lesser known, but positively reviewedPoseis holding strong on FX, a network that owes many of their viewers to the creator.
Like his other works,Poseis trailblazing through cultural norms, the 1987-set series “looks at the juxtaposition of several segments of life and society in New York: the rise of the luxury universe, the downtown social and literary scene and the ball culture world.” Aside fromThe Politician, Murphy’s slate includes three more upcoming TV series:Consent,9-1-1: Lone StarandHollywood.
The Politicianalso stars Judith Light, Zoey Deutch, Lucy Boynton, and Bob Balaban and is coming to Netflix on September 27. These images comes direct fromNetflix streaming press.
