Ryan Murphy’s Upcoming Anthology Series American Love Story to Explore the Life, Love, and Tragic Death of John F. Kennedy Jr. and Carolyn Bessette, Set for Release in February 2026

A highly anticipated dramatic retelling of the life, love, and tragic death of John F. Kennedy Jr. and his wife Carolyn Bessette is in the works, set to premiere next year. The series, titled “American Love Story,” will be produced by TV powerhouse Ryan Murphy, known for his Emmy-winning anthologies such as “American Horror Story” and “American Crime Story.”

Following the footsteps of Murphy’s previous work, which includes exploring headline-grabbing stories from 1990s America like the O.J. Simpson trial, the assassination of Gianni Versace, and the Clinton-Lewinsky scandal, “American Love Story” will delve into the courtship, marriage, and untimely deaths of the iconic couple in a 1999 plane crash off Martha’s Vineyard.

According to IMDb, the series will feature a star-studded cast portraying some of the most influential personalities of the last century. Notable names include Naomi Watts as Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis, mother to JFK Jr., and Grace Gummer, Meryl Streep’s daughter, playing JFK Jr.’s sister Caroline Kennedy.

Paul Anthony Kelly, known for his role in the 2010 television series “Body Language,” will portray JFK Jr., while Sarah Pidgeon, who has acted in shows like “The Wilds” and “Tiny Beautiful Things” and is featured in this summer’s horror reboot “I Know What You Did Last Summer,” will play Carolyn Bessette.

Other notable personalities in the series include Calvin Klein, portrayed by Alessandro Nivola, and Edwin Schlossberg, played by Ben Shenkman from “Angels in America.”

Earlier this summer, various photos from the production of “American Love Story” sparked media attention, with critics dissecting elements such as Pidgeon’s costumes and hair color. The series has generated significant interest, particularly surrounding Bessette-Kennedy’s style in the 1990s, with her former colorist speaking out about Pidgeon’s hair color being “totally wrong.” Even Murphy himself addressed the controversy, stating, “Carolyn Bessette is clearly a religious figure and it’s a religion of her own. It’s very interesting that people become so inflammatory.”

“American Love Story” is scheduled for release in February 2026, with a streaming premiere noted on IMDb for Valentine’s Day.