Actress Annette Bening posed with the Career Achievement Award during the 28th Annual Palm Springs International Film Festival Film Awards Gala at the Palm Springs Convention Center on Jan. 2 in Palm Springs, California. (Photo : Getty Images/Michael Kovac)
"Warren Beatty" actress Annette Bening has been tapped to star in FX's "Katrina: American Crime Story," which is based on Hurricane Katrina's devastation. She is the series' leading lady.
According to Variety, Bening will play Louisiana's governor Kathleen Blanco during and after the devastation of Hurricane Katrina. Her character did not seek re-election and was succeeded by Bobby Jindal. No other cast members have been officially confirmed yet.
"Katrina: American Crime Story" is the next installment in FX's critically acclaimed franchise "American Crime Story," Entertainment Weekly reported. It focuses on the tragedy of Hurricane Katrina and will once again be executive-produced by Ryan Murphy, Nina Jacobson, and Brad Simpson. Fox 21 Television Studios and FX Productions are producing.
The first installment of "American Crime Story" is the critically acclaimed "The People v. O.J. Simpson" and was named an AFI television program of the year. It was a massive critical and ratings hit, garnering two Golden Globes, 22 Emmy nominations, and nine wins. The first season starred Cuba Gooding Jr., Courtney B. Vance, John Travolta, David Schwimmer, Sterling K. Brown, and Sarah Paulson, who will be returning to the second installment.
Bening is currently earning rave reviews on the big screen and got nominated for a Golden Globe Award in Mike Mills' "20th Century Women." The Academy-Award nominee was also nominated for an Emmy for the 2005 TV movie "Mrs. Harris." Her few TV roles include a 1987 episode of "Miami Vice," an episode of "Wiseguy," and TV movies such as "Hostage" and "Manhunt for Claude Dallas."
"Katrina: American Crime Story" is set to air in 2018 and will be followed by a third installment to focus on the 1997 murder of fashion designer Gianni Versace. The latter story is based on the book "Vulgar Affairs" by Maureen Oarth. Murphy has already said Lady Gaga will not play Donatella Versace in the series.
Murphy and company have also been toying with a fourth installment of "American Crime Story" that centered on the President Bill Clinton-Monica Lewinsky scandal. The latter story will be based on Jeffrey Toobin's book, "A Vast Conspiracy: The Real Sex Scandal That Nearly Brought Down a President." A Toobin book was the basis of the first season of the FX anthology.
Watch the video about Annette Bening casting in "Katrina: American Crime Story":
