Travis Kelce Joins Forces with Ryan Murphy: Inside the Shocking New Series ‘Grotesquerie’
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In a surprising turn of events, 2024 Super Bowl champion Travis Kelce is set to make waves off the field this fall. The 34-year-old Kansas City Chiefs tight end will star in Ryan Murphy’s upcoming horror drama, Grotesquerie, on FX.
The buzz began on Tuesday, July 9, when Larry McGee, a second unit director for the series, shared a photo on social media with Kelce. In the Instagram post, the duo smiled side-by-side, with a few houses, cars, a large palm tree, and a Sprinter van visible in the background. McGee, sporting a set walkie talkie on his hip, did not provide further details in the caption.
“Since @killatrav came to play with us on set for a while (the acting chops are there). I told him in return I’ll be watching football ???? this season. Let’s go Kansas City Chiefs ????️,” McGee captioned the image.
Allison Carr, a crew member, also posted shots of Kelce on set, smiling in group photos. “Guess I have to root for the Chiefs now ????,” she captioned her pictures.
This isn’t the first sighting of the Kansas City Chiefs star on set since the announcement. On May 7, Niecy Nash-Betts, who has previously worked with Murphy on Scream Queens and Dahmer – Monster: The Jeffrey Dahmer Story, shared a video on Instagram from the set.
“Guys, guess who I am working with on Grotesquerie?” Nash-Betts teased in the video, panning the camera to reveal Kelce standing beside her.
“Jumping into new territory with Niecy!” Kelce said with a smile.
“We on site!” Nash-Betts exclaimed, captioning the clip, “This is what happens when WINNERS link up‼️ @killatrav Welcome to Grotesquerie!”
Kelce has been steadily growing his on-camera experience. He previously appeared as himself on Showtime’s Moonbase 8 in 2020 and hosted Saturday Night Live in March 2023. He also reappeared in a SNL skit about him and girlfriend Taylor Swift in October 2023. Up next, he’s slated to host the Prime game show Are You Smarter Than a Celebrity? However, Grotesquerie marks his debut in a scripted series.
In a June 6 interview on Good Morning America, Kelce opened up about the acting challenge ahead. “I’ve been on a few shows before, I’ve only played myself on those shows though,” he said.
Kelce admitted that Grotesquerie presented a new set of challenges. “It’s definitely different portraying a character and trying to find the emotions in everything and the understanding of a script and a scene. It’s a challenge. I feel like an amateur right now, but I’m coachable,” he added. “That’s one thing I know from being in sports — I’m a coachable guy.”
He also expressed his excitement for the new experience on an episode of his podcast, New Heights with Jason and Travis Kelce. “It’s been so much fun. Ryan Murphy is [an] unbelievable writer, director, producer, all of the above, man. He’s just — there’s nothing he can’t do and everybody’s just been so helpful in making me feel comfortable,” Kelce said.
As fans eagerly await the release of Grotesquerie, it’s clear that Travis Kelce is ready to tackle this new role with the same vigor and dedication that has defined his football career. Stay tuned this fall to see Kelce in a whole new light on FX.
