What Happened to Ryan Murphy Productions?

Ryan Murphy Productions, founded by the acclaimed writer, director, and producer Ryan Murphy, has been a dominant force in television for over two decades, known for its distinctive and often boundary-pushing content. The company initially rose to prominence with hits like 'Popular' (1999), 'Nip/Tuck' (2003), and the cultural phenomenon 'Glee' (2009). Its reputation for innovative anthology series was cemented with 'American Horror Story' (2011) and 'American Crime Story' (2016), which garnered critical acclaim and numerous awards.

A pivotal moment for Ryan Murphy Productions came in February 2018 when Ryan Murphy signed an unprecedented five-year, $300 million overall deal with Netflix, one of the largest in television history. This move saw Murphy depart his long-time home at 20th Century Fox Television (now part of Disney) to create exclusive content for the streaming giant. During his tenure at Netflix, the company produced series such as 'The Politician,' 'Hollywood,' 'Ratched,' and the highly successful 'Dahmer – Monster: The Jeffrey Dahmer Story' (2022) and 'The Watcher' (2022). While some Netflix projects received mixed reviews, 'Dahmer' and 'The Watcher' became massive commercial hits, demonstrating Murphy's continued ability to captivate large audiences.

In June 2023, as his Netflix deal expired, Ryan Murphy Productions made headlines again by moving to a new, multi-year agreement with Disney, reuniting Murphy with executives like Dana Walden, with whom he had a long-standing creative relationship at Fox. While the financial terms of the Disney deal were not publicly disclosed, it was reported to be less than his previous Netflix contract. This transition allowed Murphy to continue his involvement with existing franchises like 'American Horror Story' and 'American Crime Story' under the Disney umbrella, while also developing new projects for platforms like FX and Hulu.

As of October 2026, Ryan Murphy Productions remains incredibly active and prolific. The year 2026 has seen a flurry of new releases and ongoing developments. New series that premiered include the horror series 'The Beauty' in January, the romantic-drama anthology 'Love Story: John F. Kennedy Jr. & Carolyn Bessette' in February, and the teen thriller 'The Shards' in August, all airing on FX and Hulu. The 'Monster' anthology continued with 'Monster: The Lizzie Borden Story' premiering on Netflix in September 2026, and 'American Horror Story' launched its 13th season in September 2026, with Murphy already confirming that Season 14 is in active development.

Furthermore, production for the second season of the Netflix hit 'The Watcher' is scheduled to begin in October 2026. In a notable development, Ryan Murphy also announced in September 2026 that he had finished writing a script for a potential 'Glee' reboot, indicating a continued interest in revisiting past successes. This robust slate underscores Ryan Murphy Productions' enduring influence and its strategic positioning across multiple major entertainment platforms, solidifying its status as a powerhouse in contemporary television production.