Ryan Murphy’s ‘Hollywood’ Set to Premiere in May

“What if you could rewrite the story?” That’s the tag for “Hollywood,” Ryan Murphy’s upcoming drama for Netflix.

Set to premiere May 1, the seven-episode mini-series follows a group of young, aspiring actors who arrive in Hollywood, looking to make it big post-World War II. The characters represent and encounter the untold — and taboo — lifestyles of Los Angeles at that time, offering a glimpse of the unfair treatments across sexuality, race, and gender. Murphy called it “a love letter to the Golden Age of Tinseltown.”

The first released poster for the series features characters sitting atop the giant “H” of the Hollywood sign, with one helping another climb atop. I’m going to go out on a limb here and compare that visual to the one of the American soldiers at Iwo Jima, helping each other raise the flag. 

Considering “Hollywood” is set after World War II, the visual of the poster could represent how these characters — a mix of backgrounds and lifestyles — help each other to get themselves represented on the silver screen, or at the very least, pave the way so the next generation can have their time to shine. Murphy has never shone away from addressing those types of topics, and it’s about time that conversation has happened.

Starring in the series are a slew of Murphy regulars, including Darren Criss, Jim Parsons, and Dylan McDermott, with Jeremy Pope, Samara Weaving, Patti LuPone, Mira Sorvino, and Maude Apatow.

“Hollywood” is Murphy’s second series for the streamer, following his camp comedy, “The Politician.” His next scheduled one is the recently announced “Halston.”

By Michael Jacobo

Photo: Stephen Lovekin/Variety