Jane Fonda Joins Aaron Sorkin's NEWSROOM Series

According to TVLine, Jane Fonda has joined the cast of Aaron Sorkin's new HBO series- 'Newsroom.' Fonda joins previously announced Jeff Daniels, Sam Waterston, John Gallagher Jr., Thomas Sadowski and Olivia Munn. Fonda will play Leona Lansing, 'the CEO of cable news network's parent company.' 

The series centers on a cable news anchor (Jeff Daniels), his new executive producer (Emily Mortimer), his newsroom staff (Alison Pill, John Gallagher, Jr., Olivia Munn, Dev Patel, Thomas Sadoski) and their boss (Sam Waterston). Together they set out on a patriotic and quixotic mission to do the news well in the face of corporate and commercial obstacles and their own personal entanglements.

Fonda has won two Academy Awards and received several other movie awards and nominations during more than 50 years as an actress. After 15 years of retirement, she returned to film in 2005 with Monster in Law, followed by Georgia Rule two years later. In 2009 Fonda returned to theater with her first Broadway performance since 1963, playing Katherine Brandt in Moisés Kaufman's 33 Variations. The role earned her a Tony nomination for Best Performance by a Leading Actress in a Play.

Sorkin's long-developing drama, set behind the scenes at a nightly cable news show. 'Social Network' producer Scott Rudin will reunite with Sorkin for the project, which will be executive produced by both. Filming on the pilot will not begin until later in the year.

Sorkin is a screenwriter, producer and playwright, whose works include A Few Good Men, The American President, The West Wing, Sports Night, Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip and most recently The Social Network. His theatre writing credits include A FEW GOOD MEN and THE FARNSWORTH INVENTION.