The Politician is Netflix's deliciously dark new show that lured Gwyneth Paltrow back to TV.

The first look at Netflix’s biting new satirical dramedy The Politician is here to both assault and delight your eyeballs.

The upcoming eight-episode series is the very first offering from TV mastermind Ryan Murphy, the creator of Glee, American Horror Story and Scream Queens, as part of his mammoth $300 million deal with the streaming service which was announced in February 2018.

With that kind of a price tag and creative name attached to the project, it’s no wonder The Politician is a richly staged production teaming with an all-star cast.

Take a look at the first trailer for The Politician, coming to Netflix September 27. Post continues after video.

 In The Politician, Ben Platt, who you might know from Pitch Perfect and the hit Broadway show Dear Evan Hanson (download the soundtrack and listen immediately if you have yet to hear it) stars as protagonist Payton Hobart.

Payton is a wealthy student from California who has known without question since the age of seven that he is destined to be the President of the United States.

But before he can realise his destiny, he’ll have to navigate the most treacherous political landscape there is… Saint Sebastian High School.

In order to get elected as Student Body President, secure a spot at Harvard, and stay on his ruthless path to success, Payton will have to outsmart his cutthroat classmates without sacrificing his own carefully curated image.

At first, this might all sound a touch like a high school drama but once you delve deeper into the story it all starts to play out a little more House of Cards than Glee. 

The cast includes American Horror Story MVP Jessica Lange, who stars as the sassy and politically incorrect Rose, the mother of Payton’s high school election running mate Infinity Jackson (played by Zoey Deutch) who nearly costs him the campaign thanks to the discovery of a video where she uses a gay slur.

Rounding out the cast is none other than Gwyneth Paltrow, in a very rare TV appearance.

Paltrow plays Georgina Hobart, Payton’s glamorous adoptive mother who appears to be modeled ever so slightly in jest of her wellness Goop empire and can be found spouting lines to her son such as “This negative energy is not good for your father’s healing.”

The role is not only inspired by Paltrow but was also written by The Politician’s co-creator Brad Falchuk, who also happens to be her husband. He told The Hollywood Reporter that it took “a lot of convincing” to get her to agree to take on the role.

While it’s easy to get caught up in the dark humour and glamour of The Politician (especially when you take into account the fact that the jewellery Gwyneth Paltrow wears in the show was so costly that pieces from Harry Winston were delivered to set in armored trucks with bodyguards) it’s also a clever look at the state of politics that is sure to resonate with viewers.

The Politician also stars Zoey Deutch, Lucy Boynton, January Jones and Dylan McDermott.

The Politician will debut on Netflix Friday September 27. 

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