If Love Story has taught anything, it’s that Ryan Murphy understands the makings of a high profile relationship. The first season hones in on the tragically brief but deeply scrutinised romance between John F. Kennedy Jr. and Carolyn Bessette-Kennedy; and in doing so, proves Murphy isn’t just skilled at casting actors who look uncannily alike, but at capturing an entire cultural mood.
And while a second season has yet to be confirmed, we can't help but turn our attention to which high profile couple will be selected to continue the anthology series. Writer Connor Hines has weighed in, telling Vanity Fair he thinks Elizabeth Taylor and Elizabeth Burton have the "right intensity" to carry on the series. But of course, there's isn't the only romance worthy of a dedicated season. Below, we're wading through history to find the couples we'd like to see on Love Story next.
Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton
Taylor and Burton’s story has all the drama you could want for a Love Story season, they co-starred in 11 films, were married (and divorced) twice, and share one adopted daughter. Needless to say, their lives were constantly under the spotlight, and their love story was as much about spectacle as it was about connection. Murphy’s series thrives on this kind of intensity, and as Hines put it, and Taylor and Burton fit that formula perfectly.
Britney Spears and Justin Timberlake
If Murphy wants to tap into more recent history with the same potency that the Bessette-Kennedy story tapped into ’90s nostalgia, Britney Spears and Justin Timberlake would make good candidates. From their double denim ensembles to the breakup, and the media's incessant need to take one side and villainise the other, there's plenty of fodder for at least one season here.
Kurt Cobain and Courtney Love
Another fan-favourite is Kurt Cobain and Courtney Love. Their short-lived romance would push Love Story into darker territory: the singers were introduced in the late 80s, before marrying in 1992, and welcoming their daughter that same year. But their relationship was tragically cut short by Cobain's death just two years later. It's a grittier counterpoint to the polished world of the Kennedys, but Murphy has never shied away from uncomfortable stories.
Jennifer Anniston and Brad Pitt
Another couple from more recent history, and one that the press took just as much interest in as JFK and Carolyn. The pair met arguably at the height of their careers, and became one of the first-documented power couples (with the wardrobes to match) — until it all came crashing down. The Brangelina of it all offers a compelling part two to this love story.
Stevie Nicks and Lindsey Buckingham
Think of the soundtrack... Nicks' and Buckingham's relationship, forged in the intensity of Fleetwood Mac, combines creative genius with emotional volatility. Their personal life and professional artistry are inseparable, which adds an interesting layer to what is already a whirlwind romance story.
Grace Kelly and Prince Rainier III
When Grace Kelly married the Prince of Monaco it was, unsurprisingly, dubbed the wedding of the century. In the same way CBK became something of American royalty when she married into the Kennedy family, in Kelly's case, she literally went from Hollywood star to a real-life princess. This is a story that would no doubt be visually beautiful, but also marred by the complications of duty and distance, plus tragedy when Kelly suddenly died in the early 80s.
