Love Story (2026 TV series)

Love Story, formerly known as American Love Story, is an upcoming American biographical romance anthology television series created by Connor Hines and executive produced by Ryan Murphy, Nina Jacobson, Brad Simpson, D.V. DeVincentis, Kim Rosenstock, and Hines. The fifth installment in the American Story media franchise, it will air on FX and FX on Hulu. The first season charts the whirlwind courtship and marriage of John F. Kennedy Jr. and Carolyn Bessette-Kennedy.

Cast

Main

Sarah Pidgeon as Carolyn Bessette-Kennedy
Paul Kelly as John F. Kennedy Jr., the son of John F. Kennedy and Jacqueline
Naomi Watts as Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis, John Jr.'s mother
Grace Gummer as Caroline Kennedy, John Jr's older sister
Leila George as Kelly Klein
Noah Fearnley as Michael Bergin

Recurring

Production

Development

On August 13, 2021, it was announced that FX had ordered a new spin-off series American Love Story. The first installment will depict the whirlwind courtship and marriage of John F. Kennedy Jr. and Carolyn Bessette-Kennedy. Specifically, the series will explore the fall of what was originally a beautiful union for the young couple, as the pressures of their careers and rumored family discord ended with their tragic deaths when Kennedy's private plane crashed.
In June 2025, Jack Schlossberg, nephew of John F. Kennedy Jr., criticized the series for not consulting the Kennedy family during development and accused the production of "profiting off" his uncle's life "in a grotesque way." He urged the show's creators to donate part of its proceeds to the John F. Kennedy Library. Murphy later stated he intended to make a donation. In July 2025, Murphy remarked that it was an "odd choice to be mad about your relative that you don't remember," prompting Schlossberg to share personal memories of his uncle on Instagram and reiterate his criticism that the project was exploiting his family's history for profit.

Casting

In March 2025, it was reported that Sarah Pidgeon will be Carolyn Bessette-Kennedy. In May 2025, it was reported that Naomi Watts would play Jackie Kennedy, while newcomer Paul Kelly would lead the series as John F. Kennedy Jr. In June 2025, Grace Gummer, Sydney Lemmon, and Alessandro Nivola joined the cast. In a series regular role, Gummer would portray Caroline Kennedy. In recurring roles, Lemmon would portray Lauren Bessette and Nivola would play Calvin Klein. On June 13, 2025, Ryan Murphy shared a first look at Paul Kelly and Sarah Pidgeon as John F. Kennedy Jr. and Carolyn Bessette on his Instagram. The same day, it was announced by Murphy that Leila George and Noah Fearnley had joined the cast as Kelly Klein and Michael Bergin. In July 2025, Omari K. Chancellor joined the cast of the series, now titled Love Story, in a recurring role as Gordon Henderson. In November 2025, Constance Zimmer joined the cast in a recurring role as Carolyn’s mother Ann Messina Freeman.