Naomi Watts cast as Gretchen Carlson opposite Russell Crowe's Roger Ailes in Showtime limited series

Showtime and Naomi Watts' combination is nothing new for fans - the actress had previously starred in the 2017 release, 'Twin Peaks: The Return'. But this time around, the network is bringing back the Oscar-nominated star in a headline-grabbing role of Gretchen Carlson, the former Fox News anchor whose sexual harassment lawsuit against Fox News founder Roger Ailes ultimately led to his downfall.

Centered on the life and career of Ailes, the eight-episode limited series will see Watts starring opposite none other than the Academy Award-winning actor, Russell Crowe. The 54-year-old Hollywood star, known for critically acclaimed hits like 'Gladiator', 'A Beautiful Mind', and 'Robin Hood', is said to be filling in the shoes of Ailes in the much-anticipated show following the last decade of Ailes' life.

From a glimpse of his final days as the Chairman and CEO of Fox News and Fox Television Stations to the explosive claims of sexual harassment against him, that ultimately forced Ailes to quit his position from the news network in 2016, the Showtime series is going to put everything under the microscope. References from 'The Loudest Voice in the Room', the book by Gabriel Sherman book about Ailes would also abound in the yet-untitled series. 

For the uninitiated, Carlson made headlines back in 2016 when she filed a sexual harassment lawsuit against the Fox News founder, stirring waves even before the #MeToo movement actually took over Hollywood. Following Carlson's suit, a number of women also came forward with their account, bringing down Ailes, hitherto deemed as untouchable in the media scenes. 

The Watts-Crowe series is set to begin production in November. Sherman and Tom McCarthy have scripted the first episode while Emmy nominee Kari Skogland takes up the directorial duties.