A new Ryan Murphy show has made history in its casting of five transgender actors as series regulars, a record for scripted TV.
Ryan Murphy—the showrunner behind Feud and American Horror Story—and FX are producing a pilot for the drama, called Pose, which is to be a portrait of life in ’80s New York City. According to The Hollywood Reporter, it will depict two apparently juxtaposed social strata: Wall Street culture and various literary, LGBT, and “downtown” scenes.
The cast reportedly came together after a six-month-long national search. The show’s transgender actors are MJ Rodriguez (previously of Nurse Jackie and Luke Cage), Angelica Ross (Transparent) Hailie Sahar (has appeared on Mr. Robot), Indya Moore, and Dominique Jackson. Other cast-members include Ryan Jamaal Swain, Billy Porter, and Dyllon Burnside.
Steven Canals, one of the show’s writers (who also include Janet Mock and Our Lady J), said of the project’s monumental casting, in a statement, “We are thrilled that Pose pushes the narrative forward by centering on the unique and under-told experiences of trans women and gay people of color. Ryan has assembled a strong team of storytellers and innovators to collaborate on telling this important narrative. As a Bronx-bred queer writer of color, I’m honored to aid in ushering this groundbreaking show into homes.”