American Crime Story season 4 release date, cast, storyline, trailer release, and everything you need to know
American Crime Story is one of the most acclaimed anthology crime drama series on television. Created by Ryan Murphy and others, each season explores a different true crime story in meticulous detail. The first season, “The People v. O.J. Simpson,” earned 22 Emmy nominations and brought the gripping “Trial of the Century” back into the cultural spotlight. Season 2, “The Assassination of Gianni Versace,” examined the 1997 murder of the famed fashion designer. And the recent third season, “Impeachment,” dramatized the Clinton-Lewinsky scandal that rocked the White House. Now fans are eagerly anticipating American Crime Story Season 4.
The crime anthology has captivated audiences with its top-notch writing, direction, and performances that bring these true stories to vivid life. Each season offers a new case to obsess over, with a fresh cast stepping into the real-life roles. With its unique blend of dramatized fact and fiction, American Crime Story makes for addictive watching as it re-examines controversies and tragedies through a modern lens.
American Crime Story Season 4 Release Date:
Despite the lack of an official release date, we can estimate it based on the delays in previous seasons. There was about a 2-year gap between Seasons 1 and 2, and then nearly 4 years until Season 3 premiered in September 2021. COVID-19 likely contributed to the longer delay before “Impeachment.”
Following a similar production timeline, we could potentially see American Crime Story Season 4 in late 2024. The writing team is still in the development phase, after which casting and filming will need to take place before the new season airs.
Given the massive popularity of the show, FX will surely be hoping to get the fourth installment out in a reasonable timeframe. But they are also likely committed to ensuring the same high quality as the first three seasons, no matter how long that takes.
American Crime Story Series Storyline Overview:
Each season of American Crime Story tackles a different true crime case, exploring the events, key players, legal proceedings, and cultural impact in painstaking detail. The first season, “The People v. O.J. Simpson,” dramatized the infamous 1995 trial of former NFL star O.J. Simpson for the murders of his ex-wife Nicole Brown Simpson and her friend Ron Goldman. It starred Cuba Gooding Jr., Sarah Paulson, John Travolta, and Courtney B. Vance.
Season 2, “The Assassination of Gianni Versace,” explored the 1997 murder of fashion designer Gianni Versace by spree killer Andrew Cunanan, played by Darren Criss. The season starred Edgar Ramirez as Versace and Penelope Cruz as his sister Donatella.
The most recent season, “Impeachment,” revisited the scandal involving President Bill Clinton’s affair with Monica Lewinsky that led to his impeachment by the House of Representatives in 1998. Clive Owen portrayed Clinton, with Beanie Feldstein as Lewinsky.
American Crime Story Season 4 Expected Storyline:
According to reports, American Crime Story Season 4 will focus on the rise and fall of the legendary Manhattan nightclub Studio 54 and its owners, Steve Rubell and Ian Schrager. In the late 1970s, Studio 54 became known as a hot spot of celebrity glamour and wild debauchery, frequented by the likes of Andy Warhol, Liza Minnelli, Mick Jagger, and other A-listers.
However, when Rubell and Schrager faced charges of tax evasion, obstruction of justice, and conspiracy in 1979, the party came to an end. Their high-profile trials and eventual convictions exposed the dark underbelly of the glitzy disco era club scene.
The excessive indulgences in sex, drugs, and overly restrictive entry policies at Studio 54 fueled its decadent reputation and ultimate downfall. Bringing this debaucherous slice of cultural history to the screen seems perfectly suited to the American Crime Story treatment.
American Crime Story Series Cast:
American Crime Story’s Season 4 has not yet announced its cast. However, previous seasons featured many big name stars and critically acclaimed actors in the central roles:
Season 1 starred Cuba Gooding Jr. (O.J. Simpson), Sarah Paulson (Marcia Clark), John Travolta (Robert Shapiro), Courtney B. Vance (Johnnie Cochran), and David Schwimmer (Robert Kardashian).
Season 2’s cast included Edgar Ramirez (Gianni Versace), Darren Criss (Andrew Cunanan), Penelope Cruz (Donatella Versace), and Ricky Martin.
Season 3 featured Clive Owen (Bill Clinton), Beanie Feldstein (Monica Lewinsky), Sarah Paulson (Linda Tripp), Annaleigh Ashford (Paula Jones), and Edie Falco (Hillary Clinton).
Despite the lack of confirmation, it appears likely that Ryan Murphy favorites Sarah Paulson, who has appeared in every previous episode of both American Crime Story and American Horror Story, could return in a lead role for Season 4.
American Crime Story Season 4 List of Episodes:
FX has not yet released a list of episode titles or plot details for Season 4. Previous seasons had 9–10 episodes each, so we can likely expect a similar number for the Studio 54 installment.
- Episode No. 1: “Exiles”
- Episode No. 2: “The President Kissed Me”
- Episode No. 3: “Not to Be Believed”
- Episode No. 4: “The Telephone Hour”
- Episode No. 5: “Do You Hear What I Hear?”
- Episode No. 6: “Man Handled”
- Episode No. 7: “The Assassination of Monica Lewinsky”
- Episode No. 8: “Stand by Your Man”
- Episode No. 9: “The Grand Jury”
- Episode No. 10: “The Wilderness”
American Crime Story Series Creators Team:
The successful writer/producer team of Scott Alexander and Larry Karaszewski, who worked on the first season before departing, created American Crime Story. Ryan Murphy has been the showrunner and lead writer/executive producer across all seasons so far, along with his frequent collaborators Brad Falchuk and Nina Jacobson.
Additional executive producers have included Brad Simpson, Alexis Martin Woodall, Tom Rob Smith, Daniel Minahan, Sarah Paulson, and Sarah Burgess.
Writers for Season 1 included Alexander, Karaszewski, and D.V. DeVincentis. For Season 2, the writing team was led by Tom Rob Smith. And the “Impeachment” installment’s writing team featured Sarah Burgess, Flora Birnbaum, and Daniel Pearle, among others.
Where to Watch American Crime Story Season 4?
Previous seasons of American Crime Story are available to stream on several platforms:
Seasons 1–3 can be found on Hulu, the FX website, or apps with a provider login in the United States. Select seasons are also available for purchase on services like Amazon Prime Video.
In many other countries, the first two seasons landed on Netflix in 2017 before being removed in 2022 and migrating to Disney+ and Star+, depending on region. Each season in the UK has been broadcast on the BBC.
When it eventually premieres, American Crime Story Season 4 will, of course, debut on the FX cable channel in the US, and likely stream on Hulu as well. We are still determining the international streaming homes for the series.
American Crime Story Season 4 Trailer Release Date:
FX is still in the early stages of the fourth season, so it will likely take some time before they release an official trailer. Trailers typically drop anywhere from 1-6 months ahead of a premiere date to start building anticipation.
If the show does manage to arrive by late 2024, we could potentially see the first teaser trailer for American Crime Story Season 4 by summer 2024. But more realistically, the trailer will probably not materialize until sometime in 2024, closer to the actual release.
American Crime Story Season 4 Final Words:
After re-examining major modern American scandals and crimes like the O.J. Simpson trial, the Versace assassination, and Clinton’s impeachment, American Crime Story is wise to turn to the turbulent history of Studio 54 for its fourth season. Few locations better captured the excess and debauchery of the late 1970s and “Disco Demolition” eras.
As a passion project and longtime dream of creator Ryan Murphy’s, the Studio 54 season seems poised to dazzle and entertain just as much as previous installments. Audiences can expect the American Crime Story brand of impeccable production values, writing, and acting that bring these true stories to vivid life.
While plot details and casting are still under wraps, the creative team has more than proven they can handle such provocative subject matter with nuance and depth. If the Studio 54 season can provide as many watercooler moments and feats of dramatic storytelling as “The People v. O.J.” and “Impeachment,” true crime fans are in for another must-see season.
