Josh Andrés Rivera to Play Aaron Hernandez in FX's 'American Sports Story' Anthology

"West Side Story" actor to depict the life and legacy of convicted NFL player Aaron Hernandez in the FX anthology series based on the acclaimed podcast "Gladiator: Aaron Hernandez and Football Inc."

Josh Andrés Rivera, known for his roles in 'West Side Story' and the upcoming 'Hunger Games' prequel, has been cast as Aaron Hernandez in FX's new anthology series, 'American Sports Story'.
The series will chart the rise and fall of former New England Patriots tight end, Aaron Hernandez, who was found guilty of murder in 2015 and died by suicide in prison. It aims to examine his identity, family, career, death, and legacy.
Patrick Schwarzenegger will also star in the series, taking on the role of former NFL quarterback Tim Tebow, who was friends with Hernandez. Lindsay Mendez, known for 'All Rise', will be playing Tanya Singleton, a cousin of Hernandez accused of aiding him in evasion.
This series is part of a larger expansion of Ryan Murphy's 'American Story' franchise which aims to view pivotal events or figures in a particular field through the lens of today's world. The first season of 'American Sports Story' is based on the highly-regarded podcast 'Gladiator: Aaron Hernandez and Football Inc.'
Though affected by the SAG-AFTRA strike, the series had fairly complete scripts and was heading towards production as of January 2023.