Leah Remini to play conservative lesbian in upcoming comedy
Leah Remini will be returning to the small screen to play a conservative lesbian in an upcoming comedy from the makers of It’s Always Sunny In Philadelphia.
The untitled project set in Middle America revolves around Jean, played by Remini, 48, her ex-husband and her new wife, according to The Hollywood Reporter.
Jean considers herself a patriot who loves her country and firmly believes in everyone’s right to be left alone.
While she fits the profile of a typical conservative she is also raising her two sons with her wife, Betty, with the help of her ex Richie who lives in the garage.
The writing team and producers include Nick Frenkel, Charlie Day and Glenn Howerton, who are responsible for It’s Always Sunny In Philadelphia, alongside Rob Rosell and Rob McElhenney.
The Fox comedy comes as TV bosses look to hit Middle America audiences after the now cancelled Roseanne reboot over-performed in the region.
Remini has been a telly favourite for two decades and rose to fame in King of Queens which aired between 1998-2007.
However, in recent years the focus has been around her and her family leaving the Church of Scientology, and speaking out against the abuse that members suffer.
She made series Leah Remini: Scientology and the Aftermath, documenting what happens when people chose to leave, and reality show It’s All Relative gave cameras a look into her family’s post-Scientology lives.
Last year, the New Yorker revealed that Handmaid’s Tale star and prominent Scientology member Elisabeth Moss, 35, was no longer allowed to speak to her.
She told THR: “Elisabeth Moss believes that she can’t talk to me. There’s a thing in Scientology called acceptable truth.
“It means you only say what’s acceptable to the public. But she believes that I’m an antisocial personality.
“I’ve spoken out against Scientology. So she isn’t allowed to talk to me.
“And me knowing that, I wouldn’t put her in the awkward position.”
She added: “I don’t hold anything against Elisabeth Moss other than she’s continuing to support a group that is abusive and destroying families…that’s for her to learn — just as I needed to learn it.”