Ryan Murphy’s Open was a planned HBO drama pilot about sexuality, monogamy, intimacy, and relationships, told through multiple characters and viewpoints.

What it was

The show was described as a multicharacter exploration of how people navigate desire, commitment, and modern relationships. It had a provocative, adult- themed tone, which fit Murphy’s style of pushing into messy personal territory.

Cast and status

The pilot was shot and featured Anna Torv, Scott Speedman, Michelle Monaghan, and Wes Bentley. HBO ultimately did not move forward with the series, so it never aired.

Why people remember it

Open is remembered as one of Murphy’s most notable unreleased TV projects because it had strong cast buzz and a bold premise, but creative differences kept it from becoming a series.

TL;DR

It was Ryan Murphy’s unreleased HBO pilot about the emotional and sexual dynamics of relationships, especially monogamy and intimacy.