Game Of Thrones Star Is Joining Netflix’s Next Big Series

Lena Headey will lead the Netflix western series The Abandons.

By Charlene Badasie | Updated

lena headey

Lena Headey has been cast in the upcoming Netflix series, The Abandons. According to Deadline, the Game of Thrones star will play Fiona, a woman who takes in four orphans when she cannot have her own children. Driven by her strong Irish temper, Fiona’s faith and love for her family triumph over every obstacle life presents.

Created by Kurt Sutter, the story follows a group of diverse families pursuing Manifest Destiny in 1850s Oregon. When a powerful corrupt force tries to leverage its wealth to force them out, the fringe society unites to fight back. As a result, the meaning of justice is tested far beyond the boundaries of the law.

Led by Lena Headey, the series will explore the consequences of this conflict.

Billed as a Western, The Abandons has received a 10-episode order from Netflix. Sutter, who previously created Sons of Anarchy, will serve as showrunner and executive producer via SutterInk productions. He will also executive produce the series alongside Emmy Grinwis Stephen Surjik, who will also handle directing duties.

However, Otto Bathurst will helm the first episode.

Lena Headey has created an impressive catalog of work in her years as an actress. Her most notable role was as Cersei Lannister in the hit HBO series Game of Thrones. Fans and critics widely praised her portrayal of the character. But she has expressed disappointment with how her character was killed off in the final season.

In an interview with The Guardian in 2019, Lena Headey said she wanted a “better death for Cersei.” Despite this, her performance in the series was outstanding and cemented her status as one of the most talented actresses of her generation. Since then, she starred in Fighting with My Family, a comedy-drama based on the life of WWE wrestler Paige.

lena headey
Lena Headey and Nick Frost in Fighting with My Family (2019)

 She also starred in the television series Rise of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, providing the voice for Big Mama. Lena Headey will next be seen in the upcoming HBO miniseries White House Plumbers. Adapted for television by Alex Gregory and Peter Huyck, the story is based on the 2007 book Integrity by Egil Krogh and Matthew Krogh.

Directed by David Mandel, the series stars Woody Harrelson as E. Howard Hunt, Justin Theroux as G. Gordon Liddy, Domhnall Gleeson as John Dean, Lena Headey as Dorothy Hunt, and Kiernan Shipka as Kevan Hunt. Ike Barinholtz, Yul Vazquez, David Krumholtz, Rich Sommer, Kim Coates, and Liam James also appear in supporting roles.

Lena Headey will also appear alongside Nick Frost in the comedic thriller Svalta. The story will follow a family vacationing on a remote island with a dark past. Soon they discover that a serial killer is roaming the area, and the unfriendly locals have no interest in helping them.

Svalta, which has no release date yet, is directed by Steffen Haars and Flip van der Kuil.

Aside from her acting career, Lena Headey is known for her charitable work with refugees. In an interview with Mashable, the actress talked about her experience meeting a Syrian refugee named Marwa and how it inspired her to help others in need. She also revealed that being a mother was one of the key reasons she spoke out about being harassed by Harvey Weinstein.