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'Homeland' season 6 spoilers, cast news 2016: Elizabeth Marvel joins cast as female president; Creator Alex Gansa shares 'intense' preparations for new season

Sheanne Aguila July 28, 2016 04:11 AM EST

Showtime's political thriller series "Homeland" has significantly evolved since it first aired in 2011. Now heading to its sixth season, a familiar face has recently been cast as the nation's fist female president-elect.

\"House of Cards\" actress Elizabeth Marvel recently joined \"Homeland\" as the first female president of the U.S. | Image courtesy of Netflix

"House of Cards" actress Elizabeth Marvel will join the series as Elizabeth Keane, a former junior senator from New York. According to TV Line, she has a "bright, charming, lively" personality, but she can also be blunt if the need arises.

Set and shot in New York City, season 6 will focus on the period between the U.S. elections and the swearing-in of the new president. In an interview, creator Alex Gansa explained why it's an interesting time period to tackle in the show. "There is this strange period in America where there are 72 days when it's not exactly clear who's in charge, and there is a new president that needs to be educated on what it means to be president," he told Entertainment Weekly back in May. "That is a very complex transfer of power filled with all kinds of anxiety and different competing interests... it's a dangerous time in our democracy."

Meanwhile, Carrie's daughter Frannie will have a major recurring role when the program returns next year. She will be 4 years old by then and casting is currently underway for a new child actress who will portray the character.

"Homeland" is known to discuss real-world issues ranging from foreign threats to domestic terrorism. IndieWire reports that before every season begins production, producers actually travel to Washington D.C. for an "intense" information-gathering summit.They are joined by CIA officials who educate them on the most relevant risks the country currently faces.

According to Gansa, "former directors of the Central Intelligence Agency, active and retired intelligence officers, state department people, White House staffers" joined them during the three-to-five-day event, giving the showrunners a "front row seat to what's being discussed in the halls of power."

"Homeland" season 6 is set to premiere on January 2017 on Showtime.

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