Two of Ryan Murphy‘s most provocative recent dramas have reached the end of the line. According to a report from The Ankler, FX will not bring back either Grotesquerie or The Beauty for second seasons.
The news, highlighted by TVLine on Wednesday, closes the book on two shows that generated plenty of conversation but never secured a path forward. TVLine said it had reached out to FX for comment.
Grotesquerie Ends as a One-and-Done
Grotesquerie starred Niecy Nash-Betts as Lois Tryon, a homicide detective who teams with a nun, played by Micaela Diamond, to investigate a string of brutal murders with religious ties. The cast also included Courtney B. Vance, Nicholas Alexander Chavez, Raven Goodwin and Lesley Manville.
The series wrapped its 10-episode run in October 2024 and became known for a mind-bending twist midway through the season that reshaped the entire story. Nash-Betts had previously signaled she wanted more, telling Deadline she still had questions she hoped a second season would answer.
The Beauty’s Future Was Already in Doubt
The Beauty, which aired its 11 episodes earlier this year, starred Evan Peters as FBI agent Cooper Madsen, who investigates deaths linked to a miracle drug. Based on the comic book of the same name, the series also featured Anthony Ramos, Jeremy Pope, Rebecca Hall and Ashton Kutcher.
The cancellation is not a total surprise. It was reported in July that the actors’ options had expired, releasing them from their contracts and leaving the show’s future uncertain. Kutcher had acknowledged the finale left major questions unresolved, wondering aloud what his character might become next. Viewers may now never find out.
The Shards Still Waiting
There is still one Murphy drama in limbo at FX. The Shards, adapted from Bret Easton Ellis’ 2023 novel, finished its nine-episode first season in September. FX has reportedly not yet decided whether it will return.
What It Signals
The report landed the same day FX handed a supersized 16-episode third season to its comedy Adults, a reminder that the network is still investing, just selectively. In an era of tighter budgets and fewer automatic renewals, even a prolific hitmaker like Murphy is not guaranteed a second act.
For fans of Grotesquerie and The Beauty, both shows now stand as complete, if unfinished, stories. For FX, the decision leaves The Shards as the next test of how much room remains for Murphy’s brand of bold, genre-bending television.
