Starz Rolls Out Recurring Cast for Watergate Drama “Gaslit”

STARZ announced today that recurring roles have been added to the STARZ Original series “Gaslit,” the untold story of Martha Mitchell’s role in exposing Watergate. Emmy(R) nominee and Critics Choice award-winner Allison Tolman (“Fargo,” “Why Women Kill“) will join Gold Derby award-winner J.C. MacKenzie (The Trial of the Chicago 7, “October Faction“), Chris Bauer (“True Blood,” “The Wire“), Hamish Linklater (“Legion,” The Big Short) and SAG award-winner Chris Messina (Argo, “The Mindy Project“) in the series created and executive produced by Robbie Pickering (“Mr. Robot,” “Search Party,” Natural Selection).

“Gaslit” is a modern take on Watergate that focuses on the untold stories and forgotten characters of the scandal – from Nixon’s bumbling, opportunistic subordinates to the deranged zealots aiding and abetting their crimes, to the tragic whistleblowers who would eventually bring the whole rotten enterprise crashing down.

The story will center on Martha Mitchell, played by Julia Roberts. A big personality with an even bigger mouth, Martha is a celebrity Arkansan socialite and wife to Nixon’s loyal Attorney General, John Mitchell, played by Sean Penn. Despite her party affiliation, she’s the first person to publicly sound the alarm on Nixon’s involvement in Watergate, causing both the Presidency and her personal life to unravel. As Attorney General, Mitchell is Nixon’s most trusted advisor and best friend. Temperamental, foulmouthed, and ruthless – yet hopelessly in love with his famously outspoken wife – he’ll be forced to choose between Martha and the President.

“Gaslit” Recurring Cast

Allison Tolman will play “Winnie McLendon,” the DC journalist who would ultimately become Martha Mitchell’s biographer. An intrepid young journalist trapped in the “pink ghetto” of society stories, Winnie first sees Martha Mitchell as just another puff piece in Ladies Home Journal but ends up embroiled in the heart of the Watergate scandal.

J.C. MacKenzie will play “Howard Hunt,” a former CIA agent who once collaborated with G. Gordon Liddy in Nixon’s “Plumbers” unit and helps him execute the bungled Watergate break-in.

Chris Bauer will play “James McCord,” a former CIA operative who serves as the head of the security team for John and Martha Mitchell. On orders from his boss, McCord becomes one of the Watergate burglars and forms an unlikely connection with Martha Mitchell, who recognizes him after he’s arrested.

Hamish Linklater will play “Jeb Magruder,” a high-level bureaucrat behind Watergate and John Mitchell’s right-hand man. Jeb ultimately goes to jail for his involvement in the bungled burglary, but not before his testimony makes headlines.

Chris Messina will play “Agent Angelo Lano,” an FBI Agent tasked with the Watergate break-in who, with his partner Paul Magallanes, finds himself stymied at every turn by leaks in his own agency.

Along with Pickering, Matt Ross (Captain Fantastic, 28 Hotel Rooms) will direct and executive produce, with Sam Esmail (“Homecoming,” “Mr. Robot“), via his overall deal with UCP, and Chad Hamilton (“Mr. Robot,” “Homecoming“) serving as executive producers under their production banner Esmail Corp. Roberts will executive produce under her banner Red Om Films along with co-executive producers Lisa Gillan and Marisa Yeres Gill. Anonymous Content and Slate’s Gabriel Roth and Josh Levin will also executive produce. Leon Neyfakh, who created the podcast, will consult on the project. “Gaslit” is produced by UCP, a division of Universal Studio Group, for STARZ.

“Gaslit” will air on STARZ in the U.S. and Canada and on its international premium streaming platform Starzplay across its complete footprint in Europe, Latin America, and Japan.

Executive Vice President of Original Programming Karen Bailey is the STARZ executive overseeing “Gaslit.”