The tragedy that rocked the world 27 years ago is coming to our screens

The tragedy that rocked the world 27 years ago is coming to our screens in a matter of days – and not without controversy.

The doomed love story of John F. Kennedy, Jr and Carolyn Bessette Kennedy, who were killed in a plane crash in 1999, is being reimagined in a new series from prolific TV director Ryan Murphy.

Ahead of Love Story: John F. Kennedy Jr. & Carolyn Bessette's debut on February 12 – February 13 in Australia – the first trailer has given fans a glimpse of what's to come.

Watch the video above.

The series will track the romance between the son of John F. Kennedy and Jackie Kennedy and the Calvin Klein fashion publicist, who became one of the most iconic celebrity couples of the '90s.

After months of speculation, Paul Anthony Kelly and Sarah Pidgeon were announced as the show's lead stars early last year.

There's been plenty of scrutiny over the casting and in particular the costuming of the show, with fans of the couple criticising the images we've seen from the series so far.

READ MORE: How JFK Jr and Carolyn Bessette managed to pull off a secret wedding

READ MORE: JFK Jr.'s nephew slams 'grotesque' TV series on late uncle

READ MORE: Carolyn's mother warned JFK Jr not to pilot plane with daughters

The recreations of Bessette Kennedy's outfits have proven especially controversial; decades on from her death, she is still revered as a style icon and symbol of '90s minimalism.

Aesthetics aside, the show has also drawn criticism from a member of the Kennedy family: JFK Jr's nephew Jack Schlossberg.

Schlossberg, the son of Caroline Kennedy, labelled the use of his uncle's story for profit as "grotesque".

Keep reading for everything else we know about the series ahead of its long-awaited release.

So, what is Love Story about?

Anyone who remembers the '90s will know what a big deal JFK Jr and Carolyn were – we're talking Prince Harry and Meghan levels of fame.

The pair began dating in 1994, and it didn't take long for their romance to become a global fixation.

As JFK Jr was one of the world's most eligible bachelors, there was naturally plenty of fascination in the woman who'd stolen his heart.

For years, photos of the pair strolling the streets of New York, attending society events and, yes, having very public arguments in Central Park dominated the pages of tabloids.

In 1996, they managed the impossible: a secret wedding.

Despite the rampant interest in their lives – not to mention the constant presence of paparazzi – the September 21 ceremony was a complete secret from the press.

They tied the knot in a church on Cumberland Island, off the coast of Georgia. Bessette wore a bias-cut crepe silk slip dress by Narciso Rodriguez – a garment that has gone on to inspire countless brides – with Manolo Blahnik heels.

For two decades, the only image from the event released to the public was a photo of JFK Jr kissing his beaming bride's hand as they exited the church.

By 1999, there was plenty of speculation about the couple's marriage, with rumours of conflict and a potential divorce.

However, the year had tragedy in store.

On the night of July 16, they were flying to Martha's Vineyard for a family wedding with Bessette Kennedy's sister, Lauren Bessette.

Piloting the single-engine aircraft, Kennedy departed New Jersey at 8:38pm but lost control of the plane over the Atlantic Ocean roughly an hour later. All three died in the crash.

The news stunned the world, and the Kennedy and Bessette families shared their grief in a joint statement.

"John and Carolyn were true soul mates," the families said, adding they took "solace in the thought that together they will comfort Lauren for eternity."

Meet the new JFK Jr and Carolyn

In early 2025, it was announced Sarah Pidgeon had been cast as Bessette, and two months later, it was confirmed JFK Jr will be played by Paul Anthony Kelly.

Evidently, the role of "John-John" – a society icon, publisher and journalist, not to mention prominent heartthrob – was a highly sought-after one.

According to pop culture commentator Evan Ross Katz, close to 1000 actors auditioned to play him, with the casting process taking six months.

Love Story will mark Kelly's breakout role into Hollywood.

The model has previously done some theatre work but this will be his first major screen credit.

Pidgeon, meanwhile, is known for her roles in TV series The Wilds and Tiny Beautiful Things, and starred in the I Know What You Did Last Summer reboot film.

She's also an award-winning Broadway star, thanks to her role in Stereophonic.

Elsewhere in the cast, Naomi Watts will be stepping into the role of former US first lady and Kennedy matriarch Jackie.

The Aussie screen icon, of course, needs no introduction.

Watts has a long list of screen credits to her name, including Mulholland Drive, The Impossible and The Ring.

The Oscar nominee has also become a regular star in the Murphy-verse, starring in his previous series The Swans, The Watcher and All's Fair.

The role of Caroline Kennedy – Jackie's daughter and JFK Jr's sister – will be played by Grace Gummer.

The daughter of Meryl Streep, Gummer has followed her mother into the bright lights of Hollywood, landing roles in projects including The Newsroom, Mr Robot and Jenny's Wedding.

Like Watts, she's also appeared in previous Murphy productions – three seasons of his American Horror Story series.

Dree Hemingway has also been cast in the show as actress Daryl Hannah, one of the many famous women who dated JFK Jr before he met Carolyn.

Other cast members include Sydney Lemmon as Lauren Bessette and Alessandro Nivola as fashion designer Calvin Klein.

What have the Kennedys said so far?

JFK Jr.'s nephew Jack Schlossberg is the only member of the Kennedy family so far to publicly criticise the series.

In an Instagram Story last year, he claimed the family had not been not consulted regarding its creation and labelled the use of his uncle's story for profit as "grotesque".

"Lately, my news feed has been filled with pictures of my uncle, John F. Kennedy Jr., a great man," he began.

"For those wondering whether his family was ever consulted, or has anything to do with, the new shows being made about him, the answer is no.

Schlossberg said in New York state, the right to privacy "doesn't survive death", meaning he and his family do not have the right to control JFK Jr.'s name, image or likeness.

"For that matter, he's considered a public figure, so there's not much we can do," he added.

"I hope those making these shows about him take seriously what he stood for in his life, all that he achieved in it. And that they donate some of the profits [that] they're making.

"For the record, I think admiration for my Uncle John is great. What I don't think is great is profiting off of it in a grotesque way."

The show's executive producer Brad Simpson responded to Schlossberg's comments, saying the team considered their 'ethical obligation' to the family and approached the show with 'love and kindness.'

"What I hope is that when people watch the show, they will see our sincerity," Simpson told The Hollywood Reporter.

"They will see that we've approached this with love, and that we were trying to celebrate the life of Carolyn Bessette and JFK Jr."

Release date

Love Story: John F. Kennedy Jr. & Carolyn Bessette will debut in the US on February 12, and in Australia on February 13.

Here, it'll be available to stream via Disney+.

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