Halle Berry is staging not merely a comeback, but a presidential one. The pioneering American actress, producer, and director reshaped Hollywood with her Academy Award triumph and franchise turns in X-Men and James Bond. Now she is set to achieve an unprecedented achievement through a political thriller.

Born from Bill Clinton and James Patterson’s bestselling novel The President Is Missing, the film elects Halle Berry to a presidency that history has never seen. According to Deadline, Berry is set to star as the first female President of the United States.

In The President Is Missing, Berry plays President Joanna Duncan, a gender-swapped commander in chief who deliberately evades her own Secret Service. As a result, the presidency becomes mobile and exposed while confronting a digital saboteur threat capable of plunging the nation into technological ruin.

The project is in development at Apple Original Films, with Berry producing through HalleHolly. The screenplay is written by Nicole Perlman of Guardians of the Galaxy and David Chasteen. Concurrently, as per Deadline, Berry remains attached to Bad Cop, Bad Cop and HBO’s The Patient.

And yet, this story has already been elected, impeached, and reintroduced more than once.

Who all came before Halle Berry?

The adaptation history of The President Is Missing began aggressively in 2017, when Hollywood pursued the rights before publication. J.J. Abrams and Steven Spielberg expressed interest. Showtime ultimately secured the property, committing to a straight-to-series political drama.

That Showtime version advanced quickly during 2019. David Oyelowo led the cast as a vice president turned commander in chief, alongside Janet McTeer and Ann Dowd. Christopher McQuarrie executive produced, while Anthony Peckham handled writing duties.

Momentum halted in March 2020, when COVID-19 stopped pilot production. By October, Showtime canceled the series outright. In January 2026, the property reemerged at Apple Original Films as a feature, restructured around Halle Berry as President Joanna Duncan.

How well do you think Halle Berry would play the president of the US? Let us know in the comments!

Written by

Iffat Siddiqui

Edited by

Aliza Siddiqui