American Sports Story: Aaron Hernandez premieres on FX and Hulu on September 17, 2024. The limited series is a 10-episode retelling of Aaron Hernandez's life from the team behind American Crime Story.
Lead executive producers of the project are Brad Simpson, Ryan Murphy, and Nina Jacobson. The series was developed based on in-depth investigative reports by The Boston Globe. Actor Josh Andres Rivera fills a difficult role as Hernandez, narrating his complex and tragic journey.
The show is about the story of Aaron Hernandez, a former player with the New England Patriots. The series covers his incredible ascent to stardom and an unforgettable fall into crime. It follows how he became notorious for his violent behavior off the field and was later convicted of the murder of Odin Lloyd in 2013.
What is the plot of American Sports Story: Aaron Hernandez?
American Sports Story: Aaron Hernandez tells about the life and fall of Aaron Hernandez, a former NFL star whose life spiraled into chaos based on violence, drugs, and hidden personal struggles. The show illustrates his rise into stardom as the New England Patriots tight end and his hard fall into paranoia and crimes. The story cuts across his experience with childhood abuse, his closeted homose*uality, and the effects of CTE that defined his actions.
The narrative comes to terms with the eventual conviction for the murder of Odin Lloyd, a prison sentence, and an eventual su*cide in 2017. This is a multi-planed portrait of Hernandez, and special attention is paid to how it was the product of external pressures and internal demons that caused his fall.
The big picture is about the larger culture, which is the way the game marks football, where violence and secrecy often get masked as long as the player performs. It isn't the personal choices Hernandez made but also the system that has failed him, from Urban Meyer in college to the NFL failing to overlook that behavior for success.
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Cast and characters of American Sports Story: Aaron Hernandez
In the lead role, Josh Andres Rivera stands out as Aaron Hernandez, yet simultaneously sensitive and laced with darkness, the very character that defined his later years. More renowned for his breakout role in West Side Story, Rivera brings much-needed depth to a character whose name is perhaps better known for violent tendencies.
Executive producers praised the abilities of vivid displays of the emotional complexity of Hernandez. From his point of view, both the outer pressures and inner turmoil that culminated in a tragic downfall came into sight. The cast supporting Rivera is talented, including:
- Skye P. Marshall
- Kathy Bates
- Billy Bob Thornton
- David Alan Grier
Each plays a pivotal role in helping shape the narrative; the cast plays key figures in Hernandez's life-from coaches and teammates to friends and family members. These characters are thus opened to demonstrate the broader ramifications of Hernandez's actions as his life would have collided with bigger issues, from the football culture to systemic failures in safeguarding players against themselves.
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When will American Sports Story: Aaron Hernandez be released?
American Sports Story: Aaron Hernandez premieres on FX on Tuesday, September 17, 2024. Unlike streaming shows that release entire seasons at once, this series will drop only the first two episodes on its debut date.
Following the premiere, American Sports Story: Aaron Hernandez will release one new episode weekly, keeping viewers engaged as the story unfolds. Fans of sports dramas and true crime will have to wait patiently for the weekly installments.
The third episode will air on Tuesday, September 24, continuing the suspenseful and dramatic retelling of Aaron Hernandez's life. With Ryan Murphy’s impressive track record in FX shows like American Crime Story, American Sports Story promises to deliver a gripping narrative that dives deep into Hernandez's troubled life and shocking crimes. The final episode will air in November, marking the conclusion of the highly anticipated series.