FX's 'American Crime Story' Anthology Faces Uncertain Future After Decade of Success

The Emmy-winning series has hit some roadblocks in developing new seasons, raising questions about its future.

Feb. 2, 2026 at 1:47pm

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The FX anthology series American Crime Story debuted in 2016 with the critically acclaimed season "The People v. O.J. Simpson," which set viewership records for the network and won multiple Emmys. The show's second season, "The Assassination of Gianni Versace," also received widespread acclaim. However, subsequent seasons have faced challenges, with plans for a Katrina-focused season and a season about Studio 54 both being scrapped. As the show reaches its 10th anniversary, its future remains uncertain as creator Ryan Murphy and his team focus on other true-crime projects.

Why it matters

American Crime Story has been a high-profile and award-winning anthology series for FX, but its recent struggles to develop new seasons raise questions about the long-term viability of the franchise. The show's initial success demonstrated strong viewer interest in well-executed true crime stories, but the network's inability to capitalize on that momentum could signal a shift in audience preferences or production challenges.

The details

After the record-breaking debut season "The People v. O.J. Simpson" and the critically praised "The Assassination of Gianni Versace," American Crime Story has hit some roadblocks. Plans for a season focused on Hurricane Katrina were scrapped, and a proposed season about Studio 54 also seems unlikely to materialize. Meanwhile, creator Ryan Murphy and his team have shifted focus to other true-crime projects, such as the Monster anthology series and The Watcher. With the show's 10th anniversary approaching, its future remains uncertain as FX searches for the right concept to revive the franchise.

  • American Crime Story debuted on FX on February 2, 2016 with the first season "The People v. O.J. Simpson."
  • The second season, "The Assassination of Gianni Versace," premiered in 2018.
  • Plans for a Katrina-focused season were announced in 2016 but later scrapped in 2019.
  • FX announced a potential fourth season about Studio 54 in August 2021, but updates on its status have been scarce.
  • The show's 10th anniversary is approaching in 2026.

The players

Ryan Murphy

The creator and executive producer of American Crime Story, known for producing other acclaimed true-crime series like Monster and The Watcher.

FX

The cable network that airs American Crime Story and has struggled to develop new seasons of the anthology series in recent years.

Scott Rudin

The Hollywood producer who owned the rights to the book "Five Days at Memorial," which was originally planned as the basis for a Katrina-focused season of American Crime Story.

Carlton Cuse

The TV producer who later acquired the rights to "Five Days at Memorial" and developed it as a miniseries for Apple TV+.

John Landgraf

The CEO of FX who announced a "pivot" in the network's plans for a Katrina-focused season of American Crime Story.

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What they’re saying

“I want this show to be a socially conscious, socially aware examination of different types of crime around the world. And in my opinion, Katrina was a f***ing crime — a crime against a lot of people who didn't have a strong voice — and we're going to treat it as a crime.”

— Ryan Murphy, Executive Producer, American Crime Story

“The reason we can never announce anything, ever again, is because once, Ryan said 'Studio 54' and now it's 10 years later, and in every interview we have, people bring it up. We develop multiple things and multiple ideas. It's not that we're trying to be secretive, we're seeing what bubbles up and what comes in. We've learned if we announce something, it becomes a Wikipedia entry.”

— Brad Simpson, Executive Producer, American Crime Story

What’s next

FX CEO John Landgraf has stated that a fourth season of American Crime Story is "headed towards production," but details remain scarce. The network and the show's producers will need to land on the right concept to revive the franchise and recapture the critical and commercial success of its early seasons.

The takeaway

American Crime Story's initial success demonstrated strong viewer interest in well-executed true crime stories, but the anthology series has struggled to maintain momentum in recent years. As it reaches its 10th anniversary, the show's future remains uncertain, highlighting the challenges of sustaining a high-profile anthology format in an increasingly crowded true-crime television landscape.