Ryan Murphy (American Horror Story, The People v. O.J. Simpson) is launching a new limited series at FX. Today, the network has ordered 8 episodes for Murphy's latest anthology franchise, Feud, it was announced today by John Landgraf, CEO, FX Networks and FX Productions. Fox 21 Television Studios will produce the series.
The first installment of Feud will star Oscar winners Jessica Lange and Susan Sarandon and tells the story of the legendary rivalry between two of the greatest movie stars of all time - Joan Crawford (Lange) and Bette 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 smash What Ever Happened to Baby Jane ultimately received five Academy Awards nominations and became a cult classic. But for its leads, the real horror was working together.
In addition to Lange and Sarandon, the cast will include Alfred Molina as the film's director, Robert Aldrich; Stanley Tucci as studio titan, Jack Warner; Judy Davis as gossip columnist, Hedda Hopper; and Dominic Burgess as the film's co-star, Victor Buono.
The pilot is based in part on the script "Best Actress" by Jaffe Cohen and Michael Zam which Murphy purchased. Murphy will direct several episodes of the series. Murphy will executive produce with Plan B Entertainment's Brad Pitt and Dede Gardner. The first installment begins production this fall and will air in 2017 on FX.
"Ryan keeps re-inventing TV," said Landgraf. "Nip/Tuck brilliantly extended the boundaries of ad supported television. Glee re-imagined the television musical. American Horror Story pioneered the model anthological series, which has rapidly transformed the television landscape and been widely copied. The People v. O.J. Simpson: American Crime Story was 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. Feud adds a third and equally ambitious franchise to Ryan's unprecedented slate of FX's anthological limited series and marks our third such collaboration with studio partner 20th Century Fox Television and Fox 21. The series will offer a seductive, insightful look at what lies behind legendary personality conflicts."
"Ryan revolutionized the modern anthology with the American Horror Story and American Crime Story franchises, and he's come up with another gem in Feud," added Dana Walden and Gary Newman, Fox Television Group Chairmen and CEOs. "With Jessica and Susan headlining, it's already sure to be flawlessly acted, wildly entertaining and fiercely provocative. It's a fantastic project which only Ryan Murphy could deliver."
