Catherine Zeta-Jones to Star in Scripted Series for Facebook

The dark comedy Queen America, starring Catherine Zeta-Jones, has been given a straight-to-series order by Facebook’s new video platform Facebook Watch.

Queen America is created, written and executive produced by Meaghan Oppenheimer (Fear the Walking Dead). Set in Tulsa, Oklahoma, the ten-episode series is about Vicki Ellis, the most renowned (and ruthless) pageant coach in the state, and the hapless Samantha Stone, who hopes Vicki can mold her into a worthwhile contender for the title of Miss America.

The show is the first straight-to-series order for wiip, the new independent studio launched and led by veteran TV executive Paul Lee.

Made Up Stories’ Bruna Papandrea and Casey Haver, and Entertainment 360’s Guymon Casady and Suzan Bymel will also executive produce alongside Janice Williams.

“wiip is focused on creating extraordinary content that remains true to the authentic vision of artists who want to take creative risks to tell original stories,” said Lee. “We are thrilled to collaborate with Meaghan, Bruna, Entertainment 360 and their remarkable creative team, along with our partners at Facebook Watch, to bring this uniquely dark, female-driven comedy, starring celebrated actress Catherine Zeta-Jones, to audiences around the world.”

“I’m so excited to be making this show, set in my hometown of Tulsa, Oklahoma—and beyond grateful to be partnered again with Bruna Papandrea, who has championed this project from its earliest stages and proven to be one of the biggest supporters of women in the industry,” said Oppenheimer. “We have been very lucky to have found such great collaborators in wiip, Entertainment 360, and Facebook. To have one of my favorite actresses, Catherine Zeta-Jones, bringing this character to life is a dream come true.”

“Meaghan Oppenheimer is an incredible talent and we knew we had to bring this show to the world the second she first pitched us the idea. We are so excited to be collaborating with her, Facebook and the incredible Catherine Zeta-Jones on this project,” said Papandrea.