Travis Kelce makes his television debut this month in Ryan Murphy’s upcoming FX series grotesque in a role that, according to the Creator, was created only for him.
During a press conference on Monday, Murphy explained that in a general meeting that began pre-production on grotesqueKelce “said he was interested in being an actor… it ended up with me saying, ‘Okay, I’ll think of you and maybe we can come up with something.’ And he said, ‘No, I want to do it now. I’ve got three months now and I’d really like to have it all.'”
The role Murphy had in mind was grotesquehe explained, adding that he was willing to “write and tailor it specifically for the Kansas City Chiefs tight end,” which he immediately accepted.
“I shot the first episode he shot with Niecy (Nash-Betts). Niecy and I liked him immediately and took him by the hand and let him know that he would not fail, could not fail,” Murphy continued. “He was really incredible. He worked with an acting coach for several months. He came in without a script. He knew every line. He was so professional. He was so dedicated. He kept saying to me, ‘I’m really coachable. Coach me, coach me.’ So I did that, and he ended up being a real delight, and I would love to continue working with him on this and other things. I can’t say enough about him as a leader. He’s just the kindest, sweetest… everything you think about him is true.”
Not much is known about Kelce’s character in grotesquealthough the trailer for the series gives a little insight into this unspecified role.
According to the logline, the series centers on Nash-Betts as Detective Lois Tryon, who investigates a series of heinous crimes that have rocked a small community. Lois finds these crimes eerily personal, as if someone—or something—is taunting her. At home, Lois struggles with a strained relationship with her daughter, a husband in long-term care, and her own inner demons. With no leads and unsure of where to turn, she enlists the help of Sister Megan (Micaela Diamond), a nun and journalist with the Catholic Guardian.
Sister Megan has seen the worst of humanity from her own difficult past, but still believes in her ability to do good. Lois, on the other hand, fears that the world is succumbing to evil. As Lois and Sister Megan gather clues, they become entangled in a dark web that seems to provide more questions than answers.
The series also stars Courtney B. Vance, Lesley Manville, Raven Goodwin and Nicholas Alexander Chavez.
