PRODUCTION HAS BEGUN ON NEW DRAMA SERIES, "COMMANDER IN CHIEF"

Production has begun on "Commander In Chief," a new drama series from acclaimed writer/director Rod Lurie, starring Academy Award-winner Geena Davis as the first female president of the United States. The series will air Tuesdays at 9:00 p.m., ET on the ABC Television Network.

Mackenzie Allen (Academy Award-winner Geena Davis), the 45-year-old Independent Vice President of the United States, is about to venture into territory no woman has entered before. While at an official ceremony with husband and Chief of Staff Rod Allen (Kyle Secor), she is informed by the President's Chief of Staff, Jim Gardner (Harry Lennix), and the Attorney General that President Bridges is about to undergo emergency brain surgery for a tumor.

Mackenzie is stunned when Gardner tells her that, in the event the President does not recover, the party doesn't want her to succeed him. Instead, she's asked to step down in order to allow the Speaker of the House to assume the post, as he shares the party's ideals.

Mackenzie's doubts are confirmed when she visits President Bridges at the hospital and hears from him directly that he wants her to resign. Bridges dies before transition plans are finalized, however, and after sitting through an insulting and sexist conversation with Speaker of the House Nathan Templeton (Donald Sutherland), Mackenzie decides to forge ahead and assume the presidency, despite the obstacles that lie ahead.

Aside from the challenges Mackenzie faces, husband Rod has his own hurdles to overcome, as he finds himself being ushered into a pink and feminine office by the First Lady's aide. Her children, six-year-old Amy (Jasmine Anthony), as well as twins Horace (Matt Lanter), one of the most popular kids in school, and Rebecca (Caitlin Wachs), a rebellious teenager with raging hormones, must also learn to deal with their mother's new role as leader of the free world.

Meeting with a saddened Congress and addressing a stunned nation, Mackenzie delivers an inaugural speech with the help of press secretary Kelly Ludlow (Ever Carradine), which manages to unite a grieving country, quell the critics who feel she's not up to the task, and look to the bright future that lies ahead, led by the first female President of the United States.

"Commander In Chief" stars Geena Davis as MacKenzie Allen, Donald Sutherland as Nathan Templeton, Harry Lennix as Jim Gardner, Kyle Secor as Rod Allen, Ever Carradine as Kelly Ludlow, Caitlin Wachs as Rebecca Allen, Matt Lanter as Horace Allen and Jasmine Anthony as Amy Allen.

The series was created by Rod Lurie, acclaimed writer/director of the Oscar-nominated film "The Contender." Mr. Lurie, Marc Frydman and Dee Johnson serve as executive producers. The pilot was written and directed by Rod Lurie. "Commander In Chief" is produced by Touchstone Television in association with Battle Plan Productions.