Viola Davis to Star in Series from Michael's Writer; Learn More

Paramount+ has ordered Ascent, a new thriller series starring Viola Davis and created by John Logan, the writer of Skyfall, Gladiator, and Michael. 

The plot of Ascent follows Catriona Vail (Davis), a corporate crisis management expert who serves major clients and must use her lethal skills when her daughter is put in danger. The series is produced by Paramount Television Studios and is scheduled to begin filming in Los Angeles in 2027.

"I’m overwhelmingly excited about this journey with the great John Logan," Davis said in a statement. "We won the lottery with with this one! Work in which both story and character are bold, awe inspiring, and deeply unique is why I became an artist." Logan produces alongside Michael Aguilar (Downsizing, The Departed) and Davis and Julius Tennon through JuVee Productions.

For Jane Wiseman, Paramount+’s head of originals, casting Davis was a natural choice. "Viola Davis doesn't just take on roles; she transforms them. Catriona Vail is an incredibly complex character and Viola is exactly the generational talent to bring her to life" Paramount Television Studios president Matt Thunell noted that the series will be filmed on the studio’s own lot in Los Angeles.

The series marks Davis’ second major TV role, following her Emmy-winning performance in How to Get Away with Murder. For Logan, it is his second series after Penny Dreadful.