Throughout the 1970s, the movement to ratify the Equal Rights Amendment was a major force in the American political landscape. The movement was supported by many women of the era, including second-wave feminists Gloria Steinem, Betty Friedan, Shirley Chisholm, Bella Abzug, and Jill Ruckelshaus, but they received an unexpected backlash led by a conservative woman named Phyllis Schlafly, who believed that the ERA would take away gender-specific privileges enjoyed by women.
FX will be exploring this battle in Mrs. America, a nine-episode mini-series which stars Cate Blanchett (NIGHTMARE ALLEY) as Phyllis Schlafly. The network has released a new teaser for the upcoming series which shows off the star-studded cast. In addition to Blanchett, Mrs. America also stars Rose Byrne (PETER RABBIT 2: THE RUNAWAY), Sarah Paulson (American Horror Story), Margo Martindale (THE KITCHEN), Uzo Aduba (Orange is the New Black), Elizabeth Banks (CHARLIE'S ANGELS), Tracey Ullman (ONWARD), James Marsden (Westworld), and John Slattery (AVENGERS: ENDGAME). Mrs. America was scripted by Dahvi Waller (Mad Men), with the first two episodes helmed by Anna Boden & Ryan Fleck (CAPTAIN MARVEL).
The official synopsis for Mrs. America:
Mrs. America recounts the movement to ratify the Equal Rights Amendment (ERA) and the unexpected backlash led by Phyllis Schlafly, aka “the sweetheart of the silent majority.” Through the eyes of the women of the era, the FX series explores how one of the toughest battlegrounds in the culture wars of the 70s helped give rise to the Moral Majority and forever shifted the political landscape.
Mrs. America will debut on FX on April 15, 2020.