Alfre Woodard to Play President in NBC's 'State of Affairs'

Alfre Woodard has been elected to play Madame President in Katherine Heigl’s new political drama State of Affairs.

According to the Hollywood Reporter, the drama described as Scandal meets The West Wing, will see the 12 Years a Slave actress as President Roberta Payton. 

Woodard’s character enlists a CIA agent, played by Heigl, to give her counsel on incidents around the world.

The plot follows Heigl as she takes on the role of targeting America’s most critical threats while balancing the demands of a complex personal life.

The casting puts Woodard in the company of several other African-American women leads on pilots this season including Taraji P. Henson, Viola Davis and Octavia Spencer.