American Sports Story: Aaron Hernandez – Release date, Trailer, & Everything we know

Ryan Murphy’s “Murphyverse” continues to expand with the highly anticipated American Sports Story. Following the success of American Horror Story and American Crime Story, this new addition to the franchise dives into the world of sports with a gripping narrative centered on one of its most dramatic figures. The inaugural season, Gladiator: American Sports Story, explores the rise and decline of NFL star Aaron Hernandez, a tale that combines sports, crime, and cultural impact.

Recently, FX released the first trailer for the series, ramping up excitement for its premiere. Based on the podcast Gladiator: Aaron Hernandez and Football Inc. from The Boston Globe and Wondery, this limited series promises a deep dive into Hernandez’s life, his tragic downfall, and its broader implications.

In this article, we’ll cover everything we know about American Sports Story, including premiere details, cast updates, and the latest trailers. Stay tuned as we keep updating with new information to keep you in the loop!

Release Date & Where to Watch

American Sports Story will premiere on FX on Tuesday, Sept. 17, 2024, at 10 p.m. ET, with episodes streaming the next day on Hulu, continuing the tradition set by other series in the American Story franchise. Internationally, the show will be available on Disney+.

Plot

The first season of American Sports Story is titled Gladiator: American Sports Story and centers on the tragic rise and fall of former NFL player Aaron Hernandez. Based on the Boston Globe–Wondery podcast Gladiator: Aaron Hernandez and Football Inc., the series chronicles Hernandez’s journey from being a star tight end at the University of Florida and the New England Patriots to his shocking downfall. 

In 2013, Hernandez's promising career ended when he was arrested for killing Odin Lloyd, a semi-professional football player who was dating Hernandez's fiancée's sister. The arrest led to a tumultuous trial, revealing dark secrets and igniting speculation about Hernandez’s personal life. 

The series explores these complexities, including Hernandez’s subsequent trial for the 2012 double homicide of Safiro Furtado and Daniel de Abreu, for which he was later acquitted. Despite the acquittal, Hernandez’s life ended tragically in 2017 when he took his own life in prison, with posthumous reports revealing that he suffered from CTE, a brain condition linked to violent behavior.

The series promises a gripping portrayal of this tragic story, using an ensemble cast to reenact key moments in Hernandez’s life and trials. Josh Rivera leads as Aaron Hernandez, with Patrick Schwarzenegger as his college teammate Tim Tebow, and Lindsay Mendez as Tanya Singleton, Hernandez’s cousin. The show will also feature Broadway talents Tony Yazbeck as Urban Meyer, Tammy Blanchard as Hernandez’s mother, and Norbert Leo Butz as Patriots Coach Bill Belichick.

As with previous installments of Ryan Murphy's productions, American Sports Story aims to delve deep into the multifaceted case, exploring it through a contemporary lens and multiple perspectives, offering viewers an intense, thought-provoking narrative.

Cast

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• Josh Rivera (West Side Story and The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes) as Aaron Hernandez
• Patrick Schwarzenegger as Tim Tebow
• Tammy Blanchard as Terri Hernandez
• Lindsay Mendez (Station 19) as Tanya Singleton
• Jerry Levine as Robert Kraft
• Leo Solomon as Patriots Trainer
• Scot Ruggles as Steve Addazio
• Tony Yazbeck (Billions) as Urban Meyer
• Ross Jirgl as Tom Brady
• Kerry Butler as Shelly Meyer
• Kalama Epstein as Dennis Sansoucie
• Laith Wallschleger as Rob Gronkowski
• Evyn George as Grieving Relative #4
• Ben Turner Dixon as Josh McDaniels
• Leigh DeLollis as Becks
• Brett Tomberlin as Wes Welker
• Anisa Benitez as Kim
• Briana Aponte as Vanessa
• Jake Cannavale (The Offer)

Episode Guide

The first two episodes of American Sports Story will premiere on FX on Tuesday, Sept. 17, 2024. New episodes will follow each Tuesday, leading up to the season finale on Nov. 12, 2024.

• Season 1 Episode 1: Pilot (Tuesday, Sept. 17, 2024)
• Season 1 Episode 2 (Tuesday, Sept. 17, 2024)
• Season 1 Episode 3 (Tuesday, Sept. 24, 2024)
• Season 1 Episode 4 (Tuesday, Oct. 1, 2024)
• Season 1 Episode 5 (Tuesday, Oct. 8, 2024)
• Season 1 Episode 6 (Tuesday, Oct. 15, 2024)
• Season 1 Episode 7 (Tuesday, Oct. 22, 2024)
• Season 1 Episode 8 (Tuesday, Oct. 29, 2024)
• Season 1 Episode 9: What's left Behind (Tuesday, Nov. 5, 2024)
• Season 1 Episode 10: Who Killed Aaron Hernandez (Tuesday, Nov. 12, 2024)

Official Trailer

FX recently dropped the official trailer for the show:

You can also check out the official teaser below:

Will there be a Second Season of American Sports Story? 

It's uncertain whether FX will greenlight another season of American Sports Story, as it's currently presented as a limited series. However, fans of the American Story franchise can look forward to another spinoff in the works. Alongside the announcement of American Sports Story in August 2021, FX revealed plans for American Love Story, with the first season focusing on the whirlwind romance and marriage of John F. Kennedy Jr. and Carolyn Bessette.

Where is the American Sports Story Filmed?

In January 2023, FX boss John Landgraf mentioned that the series was "heading toward production" with "a fairly complete set of scripts." Filming began later that year in New Jersey but was temporarily halted due to the SAG-AFTRA strike. Production resumed in Dec. 2023 and continued through March 2024 in Florida.

Behind the Scenes

While part of the Murphyverse, American Sports Story is spearheaded by Stu Zicherman (Alaska Daily), who serves as the series creator and an executive producer. Joining him as executive producers are Ryan Murphy, Brad Falchuk, and Scott Robertson (Dahmer), along with Marshall Lewy (Project Greenlight), Nina Jacobson and Brad Simpson (American Crime Story), and Alexis Martin Woodall. Hernan Lopez, Linda Pizzuti Henry, and Ira Napoliello are also executive producers. The show is produced by 20th Television, with key contributions from Wondery and The Boston Globe.

Are there more American Story shows on their way?

In 2021, it was announced that Ryan Murphy would be expanding his American Story franchise with two new series: American Horror Story and American Love Story. 

While details are scarce, the first season of American Love Story will focus on the turbulent marriage of John F. Kennedy Jr. and Carolyn Bessette. Fans of the Murphyverse can also anticipate a 13th season of American Horror Story, ensuring the franchise's continued success. 

Additionally, in 2024, viewers can look forward to the second part of American Horror Story: Delicate, following the first part's premiere in Sept. 2023.