Lena Headey to Star in & Produce Showtime Dramedy Pilot

Showtime has given a pilot production order for the hour-long dramedy Rita, starring Emmy and Golden Globe nominee Lena Headey (Game of Thrones).

Headey will executive produce the pilot, a co-production from Showtime and Platform One Media, with creator and showrunner Christian Torpe, who is writing the pilot based on his award-winning original Danish series. Headey will play the title character, a headstrong, unconventional teacher and single mother who takes on every kind of authority, as well as her family, in a messy and unfiltered way.

“Rita is a deliciously subversive character who will make you laugh and cry as she continuously challenges the hypocrisy around her,” said Jana Winograde, co-president of entertainment at Showtime Networks. “It goes without saying that Lena Headey is a force, whose essence is ideal to take on this wonderfully dynamic lead role.”