The four-hour miniseries is tentatively scheduled for a spring broadcast, the New York Post reports. Robert Carlyle, who starred in the film "The Full Monty" has been cast as Adolf Hitler, and Peter O'Toole will play Paul Von Hindenburg, the German President who appointed Hitler as chancellor in 1933. The project, which has yet to begin filming, has already sparked much controversy. The Jewish Anti-Defamation League's national director, Abraham Foxman, questioned earlier this year, "Why the need to make this monster human? The judgment of history is that he was evil, that he was responsible for millions of deaths." A CBS spokesman told the New York daily, "CBS recognizes the responsibility that goes along with a broadcast of this subject matter. Adolf Hitler was a monster and cannot be presented any other way. We have tremendous confidence that this miniseries will be produced with the highest standards and seriousness while providing an important and very relevant examination of how Hitler came to power."

The miniseries will focus on the time period between 1889 to 1933, from Hitler's birth to his appointment as Germany's chancellor. The production is based on Ian Kershaw's biography, "Hitler: 1889-1936: Hubris."

Stockard Channing won a Tony Award for her performance in Joe Egg; her numerous Broadway credits also include Two Gentlemen of Verona, No Hard Feelings, They're Playing Our Song, The Rink, The Golden Age, The House of Blue Leaves, Love Letters, Six Degrees of Separation, Four Baboons Adoring the Sun, The Little Foxes and The Lion in Winter. Also a star of film and television, the actress was awarded two Emmys at the 54th Annual Emmy Awards — a Supporting Actress (Drama Series) Emmy for her work as the country's First Lady on the NBC series "The West Wing," and a Supporting Actress, Miniseries or Movie trophy for her portrayal of Matthew Shepard's mother in the NBC movie "The Matthew Shepard Story."