FX Orders American Sports Story, American Love Story Anthologies

Two new American Story spin-off limited series are in the works for FX: American Sports Story and American Love Story, along with an additional season of American Horror Stories, plus a fourth run of What We Do in the Shadows and the new mystery drama Retreat. 

American Sports Story is a scripted anthological limited series that focuses on a prominent event involving a sports figure and re-examines it through the prism of today’s world, telling that story from multiple perspectives. The first installment is based on the podcast Gladiator: Aaron Hernandez and Football Inc and will chart the rise and fall of NFL superstar Aaron Hernandez.

American Love Story is a scripted anthology series of sweeping true love stories that captured the world’s attention.  The first installment depicts the courtship and marriage of John F. Kennedy Jr. and Carolyn Bessette.

Studio 54: American Crime Story is currently in development as the potential fourth installment of the award-winning hit limited series franchise.

FX and 20th Television closed a blockbuster deal for the additional series from producers Ryan Murphy, Brad Falchuk, Nina Jacobson and Brad Simpson. Murphy’s American Story banner launched in 2011 with American Horror Story, followed by its first spin-off, American Crime Story, in 2016, the latter on which he partners with Jacobson and Simpson. FX and Hulu recently launched the episodic anthology spin-off American Horror Stories, which will return with a second installment.

In total, the American Story franchise shows have earned 141 Emmy nominations and won 33 Emmy Awards.  

“When Ryan Murphy came to us with these two spin-offs and the stories for American Sports Story and American Love Story, we immediately jumped at the opportunity,” said John Landgraf, chairman of FX. “What began with American Horror Story has spawned some of the best and most indelible programs of our generation, most notably American Crime Story, which created a beautiful partnership between Ryan, Brad, Nina and Brad. Their alchemy and the way in which they construct these stories is done with such care, such clarity and such dimensionality that creates the magnificence that is The People v. O.J. Simpson, The Assassination of Gianni Versace and Impeachment. We can’t wait to see what comes next.”

Dana Walden, chairman of entertainment at Walt Disney Television, said, “More than a decade ago, Ryan Murphy expressed interest in expanding the American Horror Story model to be able to tell different ‘American’ stories, which have long captivated so many of us. It was a brilliant idea. Adding these new installments to the franchise will enable Ryan, Brad, Nina and Brad and their talented teams to tackle riveting stories outside of the horror and crime genres. This group has done a truly amazing job of examining situations we think we know everything about and making us realize that there was so much more there than what we had been told.  Many of us at 20th Television, FX and FXP have worked together on this franchise since the very beginning, and it has been a privilege. It’s been an incredible partnership and collaboration, and we’re looking forward to these new chapters.”

A fourth season has been ordered for What We Do in the Shadows, based on the feature film by Jemaine Clement and Taika Waititi. The show documents the nightly exploits of vampire roommates Nandor (Kayvan Novak), Laszlo (Matt Berry), Nadja (Natasia Demetriou) and Colin Robinson (Mark Proksch) as they navigate the modern world of Staten Island with the help of their human familiar, Guillermo (Harvey Guillén).

“Fans can’t seem to get enough of What We Do in the Shadows, and FX is ready to feed that appetite by setting up the series for a fourth season,” said Nick Grad, president of original programming at FX Entertainment. “Our thanks to the extraordinary job by the creative team, cast and crew who keep making a great show better each season.”

Additionally, FX ordered Retreat, a limited series from Brit Marling and Zal Batmanglij that follows an amateur sleuth as she attempts to solve a murder at a secluded retreat. Marling (The OA, Another Earth) and Batmanglij (The OA, Sound of My Voice) will write the series and both will direct. Marling will also play a key role in the series. Retreat is executive produced by Marling, Batmanglij and Andrea Sperling (Transparent). The series will be produced by FX Productions.

“Brit Marling and Zal Batmanglij have delivered a suspenseful story that updates the classic mystery genre with a bold new character for our times,” said Gina Balian, president of original programming. “We are thrilled that Brit and Zal and the rest of the creative team will bring this series to life with their unique points of view and care.”