Travis Kelce has humorously warned his brother Jason Kelce not to let his young daughters watch the premiere of his new FX horror show Grotesquerie. As Kelce transitions from the football field to the screen, he’s entering a new chapter of his career, starring alongside a talented ensemble cast that includes Niecy Nash-Betts, Courtney B. Vance, Lesley Manville, Micaela Diamond, Nicholas Alexander Chavez, and Raven Goodwin.
Though Kelce is known for his dominant performances with the Kansas City Chiefs, this season has gotten off to a slower start, with some fans and analysts even suggesting he might be nearing retirement. Despite the challenges on the field, Kelce is diving headfirst into his off-field pursuits, preparing for life beyond football.
The premiere episode of Grotesquerie airs on FX this Wednesday at 10 p.m. ET, with the 10-episode series also available for streaming on Hulu starting the following day. The show marks Kelce’s debut in scripted television, venturing into horror fiction—a genre far from his comfort zone in the NFL.
During an episode of their popular New Heights podcast, Jason Kelce joked about sitting down with his daughters, Wyatt, Elliotte, and Bennett, to watch the first episode of their uncle’s eerie new project.
“Are you the bad guy? Are you the killer?” Jason asked with curiosity.
“Can’t tell you. You’re going to have to watch, Jason,” Travis replied playfully. “Make sure you have the girls watch this. They are going to love this show.”
But when Jason reminded Travis that his wife, Kylie, wouldn’t approve of letting their daughters watch a horror series, Travis quickly backtracked.
“Dude! That was completely a joke. Do not let the girls watch this show,” Travis laughed. “I don’t know if they’ll even understand what’s going on in the show. It’s very advanced for toddlers.”
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The playful exchange highlighted the contrasting lives of the two brothers—Jason as a family man and father, and Travis as a professional athlete venturing into Hollywood.
Meanwhile, Grotesquerie showrunner Ryan Murphy, an acclaimed TV writer and director behind hits like American Horror Story and Glee, recently gave fans some insight into how Travis handled his acting debut. Murphy revealed that Kelce’s role was written specifically for him, and the NFL star took his acting challenge seriously. According to Murphy, Kelce worked with an acting coach for several months before filming and impressed everyone on set with his commitment.
“He showed up off book. He knew everybody’s lines. He was so professional. He was so committed,” Murphy said. “He kept saying to me, ‘I’m real coachable, coach me, coach me.’ So I did, and he ended up being a delight. I would love to continue working with him on this and other things.”
Murphy praised Kelce’s charisma and leadership qualities, noting that those traits translated seamlessly from the football field to the set. “A star is a star, no matter the field,” Murphy added. “He’s just the kindest, sweetest. Everything you think about him is true.”
In the official trailer for Grotesquerie, Kelce appears twice, including a haunting moment where his character delivers a chilling line: “There’s no future after this.” His brief but impactful appearances in the teaser have fans buzzing about what role he’ll play in the show.
Kelce’s involvement in Grotesquerie was first reported in May, shortly after he signed a two-year, $35.24 million extension with the Kansas City Chiefs, solidifying his future both on the field and, perhaps, in Hollywood. With his acting debut on the horizon and his NFL career continuing, Kelce seems poised to become a star in multiple arenas.
As Grotesquerie makes its debut, it will be fascinating to see how the sports world reacts to Kelce’s venture into acting—and whether his larger-than-life personality will be as captivating on screen as it is on the football field.
With his future in both football and entertainment ahead of him, Kelce’s new role marks the start of an exciting new chapter in his multifaceted career.
