“American Sports Story”: Everything to Know

Ryan Murphy's latest anthology series 'American Sports Story' will follow the 'rise and fall' of football player Aaron Hernandez

The Ryan Murphy-verse is expanding with FX’s American Sports Story.

Following the success of anthology series such as American Horror Story and American Crime Story, the new series will focus “on a prominent event and/or figure in the sports world, but seen through today’s lens and told through multiple perspectives,” per Variety.

The series was originally announced in August 2021, but various cast members have been confirmed recently following the end of the SAG-AFTRA strike.

Based on the podcast Gladiator: Aaron Hernandez and Football Inc from the Boston Globe and Wondery, the first season will follow the “rise and fall” of Hernandez, a former tight end for the New England Patriots who was convicted of murder and later died by suicide in prison in 2017 at the age of 27.

From the cast to when filming is expected to begin, here’s everything to know about American Sports Story season 1.

Who is in the American Sports Story cast?

The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes star Josh Andrés Rivera is set to play the NFL athlete after blowing producers away with his audition.

“He stole the part,” producer Nina Jacobson told IndieWire. “He is a grounded, likable, natural, and compelling presence, super-prepared. I was thrilled once they brought in a bunch of people, and let Josh rise to the top, which I knew he would. And we had him all tatted out. He was trained to be huge and muscular; he loved lifting weights,” she said of the West Side Story actor.

The cast also includes Patrick Schwarzenegger as Tim Tebow (who played football with Hernandez at the University of Florida) and Lindsay Mendez as Tanya Singleton (Hernandez’s cousin).

Who is writing American Sports Story?

The new series will be developed by Stu Zicherman (The Americans), who will also serve as an executive producer.

Who is producing American Sports Story?

The series includes a long list of executive producers, including Murphy, Zicherman, Brad Falchuk, Jacobson, Brad Simpson, Alexis Martin Woodall and Wondery’s Hernan Lopez and Marshall Lewy and the Boston Globe’s Linda Pizzuti Henry and Ira Napoliello, per The Hollywood Reporter.

When did American Sports Story film?

In January 2023, FX boss John Landgraf revealed that the series was “heading toward production” as they had “a fairly complete set of scripts.” Filming reportedly kicked off later that year in New Jersey, but was eventually suspended amid the SAG-AFTRA strike. It's unclear when filming will resume now that the SAG-AFTRA strike is over.

When will American Sports Story be released?

An official release date for the series hasn’t been announced. However, with production currently in limbo, it’s likely that the show won’t premiere until late 2024.

Will there be a second season of American Sports Story?

Though it’s unclear if FX will order another season of American Sports Story, another American Story spinoff is in the works.

When American Sports Story was announced in August 2021, FX also revealed plans for American Love Story, with the first season covering the whirlwind courtship and marriage of John F. Kennedy Jr. and Carolyn Bessette.

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