Starz has released the first trailer for Gaslit, which tells the insane but shockingly true story of the Watergate scandal from a different perspective. Sean Penn stars as Attorney General John Mitchell, President Richard Nixon’s most trusted advisor and best friend, with Julia Roberts also starring as John’s whistleblower wife Martha Mitchell. As you can tell from the Gaslit trailer, Sean Penn looks nearly unrecognizable as John Mitchell, buried under makeup and a receding hairline.

Gaslit is based on the first season of the Slow Burn podcast and the Starz series was created by Robbie Pickering who also executive produced alongside Mr. Robot‘s Sam Esmail. “Gaslit is the Watergate story you’ve never heard before,” Pickering said. “At the center of the show is Martha Mitchell, an unlikely whistleblower who is the first person to bust the whole scandal wide open and ultimately becomes the subject of a vicious White House smear campaign enacted in part by her own beloved husband, Attorney General John Mitchell.” Pickering added that “the goal in making this project has always been to bring a real humanity to this subject, which yields a far richer and more relatable story than the standard male-driven political dramas about the period. I can’t wait for viewers to experience the extraordinary performances in this remarkable ensemble, led by Julia Roberts, brought to life in this thrilling, stranger-than-fiction tale of marriage, love, betrayal, and ultimately, hope.“

The official synopsis for Gaslit:

Gaslit is a modern take on Watergate that focuses on the untold stories and forgotten characters of the scandal – from Nixon’s bumbling and opportunistic subordinates to the deranged zealots aiding and abetting their crimes to the tragic whistleblowers who would eventually bring the whole rotten enterprise crashing down. The story will center on Martha Mitchell, played by Julia Roberts. A big personality with an even bigger mouth. Martha is a celebrity Arkansan socialite and wife to Nixon’s loyal Attorney General, John Mitchell, played by Sean Penn. Despite her party affiliation, she’s the first person to publicly sound the alarm on Nixon’s involvement in Watergate, causing both the Presidency and her personal life to unravel.

Gaslit will debut on Starz on April 24, 2022.