After evolving the anthology with American Horror Story, Feud and American Crime Story, writer/producer Ryan Murphy is returning to episodic television with 2018's Pose. And it's a show that won't star Jessica Lange or [Kathy Bates](http://www.empireonline.com/people/kathy-bates/
).
Set in 1986, according to Deadline it "examines the juxtaposition of several segments of life and society in New York City: the emergence of the luxury Trump-era universe, the downtown social and literary scene and the ball culture world." The expectation is that the series, which will likely feature a relatively unknown cast of actors, is expected to go into production some time in October, with Murphy continuing the tradition of shooting the first episode.
Murphy really exploded onto the scene with Glee, which for a time triggered a pop culture phenomenon (introducing, among others, Grant Gustin and Melissa Benoist, respectively the stars of The Flash and Supergirl, to the world). From there he created American Horror Story, which, unbeknownst to the audience at the time, was a show that would reinvent itself each season, with many of the same cast members returning in different roles. This formula — though that sounds like an inadequate description — continued with American Crime Story (the first season dramatized the OJ Simpson trial) and, currently, Feud: Bette And Joan. All three series are coming back: American Horror Story in some way dealing with the recent US presidential election; American Crime Story with arcs on Katrina and Versace; and a second round of Feud focusing on Prince Charles and Princess Diana.
Tim Minear, who comes from a writing/producing background that includes The X-Files, Angel, Firefly, and Terriers, has been an executive producer on American Horror Story from the beginning and serves the same role on Feud. His admiration for what Murphy brings to the table creatively, and undoubtedly will again with Pose, is strong.
"I've now worked with Ryan Murphy longer than I worked with Joss Whedon," Minear shares with Empire. "And I have never met somebody who is as driven or who has as many plates spinning or who has as many good ideas. He is just a giant brain factory of great ideas, and the most talented producer I've ever met. I was a lieutenant to a lot of big guys; I've worked with Chris Carter and Joss and Shawn Ryan. They're all incredibly talented, obviously, and visionaries in their way. But Ryan Murphy is a one of a generation kind of showman."
As an example, he looks towards the impact of American Horror Story on the television medium. "It reinvented the parameters of how you could tell a story on TV," he offers. "Without American Horror Story, there wouldn't be American Crime — I'm not even referring to OJ, I'm referring to the show American Crime. There wouldn't be Fargo, there wouldn't be True Detective. This was the beginning of a new way of approaching narrative fiction on television."