Ryan Murphy, the prolific, Emmy and Golden Globe award-winning producer who pioneered the modern limited series form with the award-winning anthologyAmerican Horror Storyand whoseAmerican Crime Storyhas been a critical and ratings triumph with its first installmentThe People v. O.J. Simpson, is launching a new FX limited series. Today FX has placed an order forMurphy’s latest anthology franchise,Feud, an 8-episode series that will explore the bouts and blows of epic conflicts, it was announced byJohn Landgraf, CEO, FX Networks and FX Productions. Fox 21 Television Studios will produce the series for FX.
The first installment ofFeudstarsJessica LangeandSusan Sarandonand tells the story of the legendary rivalry between two of the greatest movie stars of all time -Joan Crawford(Lange) andBette Davis(Sarandon), and how they came together in 1962 to collaborate on a picture each hoped would revive their careers. The result, the critically acclaimed and box office smashWhat Ever Happened to Baby Jane?ultimately received five Academy Awards nominations and became acult classic. But for its leads,Joan CrawfordandBette Davis, the real horror was working together. The pilot is based in part on the scriptBest ActressbyJaffe CohenandMichael ZamwhichMurphypurchased.Murphywill direct several episodes of the series. Here’s whatFX NetworksCEOJohn Landgrafhad to say in a statement.
“Ryan keeps re-inventing TV.Nip/Tuckbrilliantly extended the boundaries of ad supported television.Gleere-imagined the television musical.American Horror Storypioneered the modern anthological series, which has rapidly transformed the television landscape and been widely copied.The People v. O.J. Simpson: American Crime Storywas recognized by many as the best and most talked about new show this year. And all of those shows have been award-winning ratings hits.Feudadds a third and equally ambitious franchise toRyan’s unprecedented slate of FXanthology limited seriesand marks our third such collaboration with studio partner 20th Century Fox Television/Fox 21. The series will offer a seductive, insightful look at what lies behind legendary personality conflicts.”
In addition to Academy Award winnersJessica LangeandSusan Sarandon, the cast includes celebrated actorsAlfred Molinaas the film’s directorRobert Aldrich,Stanley Tuccias studio titanJack Warner,Judy Davisas gossip columnistHedda HopperandDominic BurgessasCrawfordandDavis' co-starVictor Buono.Feudhails from Fox 21 Television Studios (The People v. O.J. Simpson: American Crime Story,Homeland) and will be executive produced byMurphyand Plan B Entertainment’sBrad PittandDede Gardner. The first installment begins production this fall and will air in 2017 on FX. Here’s what Fox Television Group Chairmen and CEOsDana WaldenandGary Newmanhad to say in their joint statement.
“Ryanrevolutionized the modern anthology with theAmerican Horror StoryandAmerican Crime Storyfranchises, and he’s come up with another gem in Feud. WithJessicaandSusanheadlining, it’s already sure to be flawlessly acted, wildly entertaining and fiercely provocative. It’s a fantastic project which only Ryan Murphy could deliver.”
Ryan Murphyis the Emmy and Golden Globe award-winning writer/producer and director of the hit drama seriesGlee(FOX) andNip/Tuck(FX), as well as the limited seriesAmerican Horror Story(FX),Scream Queens(FOX) andAmerican Crime Story(FX).American Horror Story, which will debut its sixth installment this fall, is the highest-rated series in FX’s history, andThe People v. O.J. Simpson: American Crime Storyis the most-watched new program on cable television in 2016 and the most-watched new series in FX history.Murphyalso received his first-ever Tony® Award nomination for the 2016 Broadway revival ofLong Day’s Journey Into Night.
