Fox’s upcoming music drama Monarch has found its leads. According to The Hollywood Reporter, the series nabbed Academy Award-winning actress Susan Sarandon and Marcella star Anna Friel to play the mother-daughter combo, which are the two main roles on the show.
The series tells the story of the Romans, who are described as “America’s first family of country music.” Dottie Cantrell Roman (Sarandon) is the matriarch of the family and has built the dynasty alongside her husband. But the legacy of the Romans is in danger given their entire success is built on a lie. At this point, Dottie’s daughter Nicolette “Nicky” Roman (Friel) embarks on a crusade to protect the legacy of her family while also seeking to become a star in her own right.
Monarch, created by Melissa London Hilfers, received a straight-to-series order from Fox back in May. The one-hour-long drama is set to premiere in January, with 12 episodes being planned for season one.
This will be the first television appearance by Susan Sarandon as a lead. Her previous TV work mostly included guest appearances, the most recent being crime drama Ray Donovan and comedy-thriller Search Party.
Anna Friel, on the other hand, is currently leading the British detective series Marcella. She previously starred in the main role in season two of the anthology The Girlfriend Experience and NBC’s American Odyssey.
