FX will not renew Ryan Murphy’s dramas “Grotesquerie” and “The Beauty” for second seasons, TVLine reported Wednesday, citing The Ankler. Inquisitr could not independently verify the report.
Another Murphy drama, “The Shards,” awaits a decision from FX after completing its initial nine-episode run. It adapts Bret Easton Ellis’ 2023 novel, also titled “The Shards.”
The reason for the two reported cancellations was not immediately known, nor was the timing of a decision on “The Shards.”
Niecy Nash-Betts, who starred in “Grotesquerie,” had hoped to return for answers about the finale. “There still are a few questions I’m waiting to have answered, and all things being perfect, we would have a Season 2 to unpack it,” she told Deadline in an earlier interview.
Nash-Betts offered another possibility earlier if the show did not continue. “If not, that means me sitting at a dinner with Ryan for hours telling me where he planned on this story going,” she said.
In “Grotesquerie,” Nash-Betts played homicide detective Lois Tryon, who joins a nun portrayed by Micaela Diamond to investigate murders with religious connections. The cast included Courtney B. Vance, Nicholas Alexander Chavez, Raven Goodwin and Lesley Manville.
The show’s 10-episode run concluded in October 2024. A twist halfway through the season transforms the series, which is available on Hulu.
“The Beauty” aired its 11 episodes earlier this year, with Evan Peters playing FBI agent Cooper Madsen. Madsen investigates deaths associated with a miracle drug known as The Beauty.
The drama draws on a comic book also called “The Beauty.” Anthony Ramos, Jeremy Pope, Rebecca Hall and Ashton Kutcher were in the cast.
Kutcher had questions about that show’s finale. “It definitely leaves you hanging, going, ‘Wait, what the heck is happening?’” he told TVLine in an earlier interview.
Kutcher also considered his character’s future in that earlier interview. “What kind of a monster does he become now? Or does he have this moment of reform?” he said.
In July, the actors’ options expired, releasing them from their contracts and leaving the show’s future in question.
