When Do New Episodes of ‘Love Story: John F. Kennedy Jr. & Carolyn Bessette’ Come Out?
Everyone is talking about John F. Kennedy Jr. and Carolyn Bessette like it’s the ’90s. The first three episodes of Love Story: John F. Kennedy Jr. & Carolyn Bessette premiered on February 12, and the world has become enamored with JFK Jr. and Bessette’s relationship again. So, when can we expect the next episode? Will it be another three-episode drop? We have those answers and more.
The FX limited series, inspired by Elizabeth Beller’s Once Upon a Time: The Captivating Life of Carolyn Bessette-Kennedy, about John F. Kennedy Jr. and Carolyn Bessette’s high-profile romance, will premiere this February. Newcomer Paul Anthony Kelly is taking on the role of the iconic American figure, and Sarah Pidgeon will play Bessette. On January 26, FX confirmed the premiere date and revealed a new poster, and days later, the first trailer followed.
The show, now titled Love Story: John F. Kennedy Jr. & Carolyn Bessette, was first announced in 2021 but was put on the back burner in recent years. Love Story is the latest in Ryan Murphy‘s growing universe of anthology series, including American Horror Story, American Crime Story, and American Sports Story.
Over the last year, there has been renewed interest in the fascinating and often complicated romance between the eldest son of President John F. Kennedy and Jackie Kennedy Onassis and the beautiful and mysterious Calvin Klein publicist. Their relationship garnered relentless media attention, and Bessette became a fashion icon of the 1990s.
Love Story will explore the early days of their relationship, their eventual marriage, the highs and lows in between, and the tragedy that shocked the world. Scroll down for the latest updates on Love Story.
What is Love Story’s episode release schedule?
Love Story will premiere on February 12 with an FX/Hulu three-episode simulcast at 9 p.m. ET and internationally on Disney+. Following the three-episode premiere, one new episode will air weekly. The series will consist of nine episodes.
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The official trailer was unveiled on February 2 and gives a glimpse of how John and Carolyn fall into each other’s orbit. Set to a cover of “Head Over Heels” by Tears for Fears, John and Carolyn become enchanted with each other. But their romance isn’t a perfect fairy tale. “It’s not a question of whether I want to spend the rest of my life with you. It’s a question of if I’m cut out to be Mrs. JFK Jr.,” Carolyn says.
The trailer ends with a warning of sorts from Ethel Kennedy: “You’ll never be given the benefit of the doubt again, Carolyn. The whole world will be watching you. It’s your choice what you want them to see.”
In September 2024, executive producers Nina Jacobson and Brad Simpson gave an exciting update about the status of the show. “We’re very much intending to [tell that story],” Jacobson told Variety. Simpson added, “We have great scripts on that. We’re trying to figure out when it’ll land. It is a story that really resonates right now. It’s amazing. A lot of younger women are looking to her as sort of a representational icon of a certain period of time that’s really fascinating, and hopefully, we’ll be able to bring that to the screen soon.”
Who is playing Carolyn Bessette in Love Story?
Sarah Pidgeon was cast as Carolyn Bessette in Love Story in March 2025. Pidgeon rose to fame in the Prime Video series The Wilds and garnered critical acclaim for her performance in Tiny Beautiful Things. She made her Broadway debut in Stereophonic and also starred in the I Know What You Did Last Summer sequel.
The first photos of Pidgeon in character were released via Murphy’s production company on June 13. “We started shooting this week in New York City and can’t wait until you see the romantic and tragic love story between America’s prince, JFK Jr., and fashion icon Carolyn Bessette—out Valentine’s Day week of 2026,” the post said.
Who is playing John F. Kennedy Jr. in Love Story?
The role of John F. Kennedy Jr. in Love Story will be played by Paul Anthony Kelly. This will be his first major role. He previously modeled for companies like Marine Layer and appeared in two plays for The Group Repertory Theatre. His casting was first reported by Evan Ross Katz.
“Murphy and team read close to one thousand actors over the course of six months – which reminded me immediately, of course, of the search for Scarlett O’Hara. In the end, they cast newcomer Paul Kelly for the star-making role,” Katz wrote on Instagram.
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Kelly noted in his Interview magazine profile that his connection with Pidgeon was built on “compassion and security.” He added, “When I got the job, I remember telling her, ‘I’m here for you. I’m so excited to fall in love with you every day, and the days that we have to hate each other, I’m excited to go through that together.’ And she did the same for me.”
Who else is in the Love Story cast?
A stacked roster of actors will play other notable figures in Love Story. JFK Jr.’s mother, Jackie, will be played by Oscar nominee Naomi Watts. Watts has worked on several Ryan Murphy projects, including Feud: Capote vs. The Swans and All’s Fair. She notably played Princess Diana in the 2013 film Diana.
FX
Grace Gummer will play Caroline Kennedy, JFK Jr.’s sister, and Sydney Lemmon will play Carolyn’s sister, Lauren Bessette. Constance Zimmer has been cast as Carolyn and Lauryn’s mother, Anne Marie Messina. Additional cast members include Alessandro Nivola as Calvin Klein, Leila George as Kelly Klein, Dree Hemingway as Daryl Hannah, Ben Shenkman as Ed Schlossberg, and Noah Fearnley as Michael Bergin. The trailer also confirms that Donal Logue will play Ted Kennedy.
What happened to JFK Jr. and Carolyn Bessette?
The couple struggled with the intense media scrutiny surrounding their relationship. They were photographed constantly by paparazzi, including times when they were having arguments in New York City. Kennedy and Bessette made their final public appearance together at a John F. Kennedy Presidential Library event in May 1999.
The couple and Bessette’s sister, Lauren, were killed on July 16, 1999, in a plane JFK Jr. was flying to Martha’s Vineyard for a wedding at the Kennedy compound in Hyannis Port, Massachusetts. The plane wreckage was discovered after a five-day search. The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) concluded that the crash was caused by Kennedy’s spatial disorientation while descending over water at night.
Love Story: John F. Kennedy Jr. & Carolyn Bessette, Thursdays, 9/8c, FX and Hulu
