The official trailer for FX’s “American Sports Story: Aaron Hernandez” hit YouTube on Wednesday, and it is a very uneasy watch.
Based on the life of the late, disgraced New England Patriots tight end Aaron Hernandez, this dramatization of his life has been a long time coming. For those of you unfamiliar with the story, I’m sorry to ruin your day.
Hernandez, a once golden-child of the NFL, was found guilty of murdering Odin Lloyd in 2013 and sentenced to life without parole in 2015. He was found dead in his cell of an apparent suicide in 2017 at the age of 27, shortly after being acquitted of a double homicide. In the years that followed, revelations about drug use and his alleged sexuality hit headlines and have been the subject of multiple documentaries.
Media mogul Ryan Murphy is now delivering what will probably be the definitive biopic on Hernandez’s life, exploring everything from his childhood and meteoric rise to success, to his demons that seemingly led to his untimely downfall. (RELATED: Halle Berry Bails On Kim Kardashian’s Legal Drama: REPORT)
The limited series is based on the podcast “Gladiator: Aaron Hernandez and Football Inc.,” according to Deadline. Josh Rivera portrays Hernandez throughout his life, including his three seasons with Tom Brady and the Patriots and their Super Bowl appearance.
INDIANAPOLIS, IN – JANUARY 31: Aaron Hernandez #81 of the New England Patriots answers questions from the media during Media Day ahead of Super Bowl XLVI against the New York Giants at Lucas Oil Stadium on January 31, 2012 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Scott Halleran/Getty Images)
NASHVILLE, TN – SEPTEMBER 9: Aaron Hernandez #81 of the New England Patriots warms up before the season opener against the Tennessee Titans at LP Field on September 8, 2012 in Nashville, Tennessee. The Patriots defeated the Titans 34 to 13. (Photo by Wesley Hitt/Getty Images)
LONDON, ENGLAND – NOVEMBER 09: Josh Andrés Rivera arrives at “The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes” World Premiere at BFI IMAX Waterloo on November 09, 2023 in London, England. (Photo by Karwai Tang/WireImage)
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA – APRIL 03: (L-R) Rachel Zegler and Josh Andrés Rivera attend the 64th Annual GRAMMY Awards at MGM Grand Garden Arena on April 03, 2022 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Emma McIntyre/Getty Images for The Recording Academy)
The series premieres Sept. 17 on FX Networks and Hulu. And I guarantee it’ll make a lot of people extremely uncomfortable.
