Russell Crowe to star as Roger Ailes in Showtime limited series Following the success of their previous limited series adaptation, Patrick Melrose, Showtime is doubling down with another, this time based on the bestselling book The Loudest Voice in the Room starring Russell Crowe as Fox News founder Roger Ailes. Based on the Gabriel Sherman book, the eight-episode series is set around Ailes and will focus on the last decade of his life, while also flashing back to key moments in his career, including his meeting with Richard Nixon on The Mike Douglas Show that both put him on the political path he became known for, as well as the sexual harassment accusations that would lead to his downfall. “In many ways, the collision between the media and politics has come to define the world we live in today,” David Nevins, President and CEO of Showtime Networks, said.