Michelle Williams stars in FX’s emotional new series ‘Dying for Sex’
Michelle Williams stars in FX’s emotional new series ‘Dying for Sex’
Based on the hit Wondery podcast, Molly’s story is funny, fearless, and deeply human.
Michelle Williams is about to make every second count. In FX’s new limited series “Dying for Sex,” Williams stars as Molly, who finds out she’s got Stage IV metastatic breast cancer and decides it’s now or never to start living life on her own terms. Step one? Leaving her husband Steve (Jay Duplass). Step two: exploring all the sexual desires she’s kept bottled up until now. With her best friend and ultimate hype-woman Nikki (Jenny Slate) by her side, Molly’s diving in — zero apologies and definitely no bucket lists. Based on the hit Wondery podcast and the true story behind it, this one’s equal parts funny, fearless, and emotional. All eight episodes drop on Hulu on Friday, April 4 - here’s everything you need to know about “Dying for Sex.”
Everything you need to know about ‘Dying for Sex’:
What is ‘Dying for Sex’ about?
“Dying for Sex” is a new eight-episode limited dramedy from FX, and it sounds pretty powerful. Michelle Williams stars as Molly, who gets hit with the news that she has Stage IV metastatic breast cancer. Instead of feeling sorry for herself, she decides life’s too short to stay in a marriage that’s not working - so she leaves her husband Steve (Jay Duplass) and starts exploring all the sexual adventures she’s been missing out on. Luckily, she’s got her best friend Nikki (Jenny Slate) cheering her on every step of the way. Forget bucket lists (Molly would roll her eyes), this is about finally living life on her own terms.
It’s not just about sex, though. At its heart, the show is about Molly and Nikki’s incredible friendship, which gets even stronger through all the ups and downs. The series blends laughs and emotional gut-punches, capturing Molly’s bold journey to figure out who she really is and what makes her happy. Plus, the supporting cast is stacked: Rob Delaney, Kelvin Yu, David Rasche, Esco Jouléy, and even Sissy Spacek all show up along the way.
And here’s the most powerful part: it’s based on a true story. The whole thing started as a podcast from Wondery, where the real Molly Kochan and her best friend Nikki Boyer talked openly (like, really openly) about Molly’s experiences after her diagnosis. Their conversations about love, sex, friendship, and facing death resonated with a ton of people. Molly even wrote a memoir called “Screw Cancer: Becoming Whole,” digging deeper into her story. Because of that, this show should be funny, fearless, and super real.
What time will episodes of ‘Dying for Sex’ come on Hulu?
“Dying for Sex” premieres on Hulu on Friday, April 4, 2025. All eight episodes will drop at once, likely around 12:01 a.m. ET, so you can binge the entire series right away. Hulu subscribers can stream “Dying for Sex” with any plan as soon as the episodes become available on demand.
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Who are the main characters of ‘Dying for Sex’?
- Molly (Michelle Williams) – After finding out she has Stage IV metastatic breast cancer, Molly decides it’s finally time to live life exactly the way she wants. First step? Leaving her husband, Steve, and diving into exploring her sexuality, determined to make every moment count.
- Nikki (Jenny Slate) – Molly’s best friend and ultimate hype-woman. Nikki’s the kind of friend you always want by your side, encouraging Molly to chase her dreams and supporting her through every new experience—no questions asked.
- Steve (Jay Duplass) – Molly’s husband who, despite being steady during her illness, struggles to connect with her emotionally. Their marriage just isn’t working anymore, and Molly’s diagnosis pushes her to finally make a change.
- Neighbor Guy (Rob Delaney) – He’s a familiar face around Molly’s neighborhood, and though the exact details of his interactions with Molly aren’t clear yet, he’s definitely part of her journey into new experiences.
- Dr. Pankowitz (David Rasche) – Molly’s doctor, who plays an important role in helping her navigate the tough reality of her medical situation.
- Sonya (Esco Jouléy) – Someone Molly encounters along the way who brings a fresh perspective and some meaningful connections during her adventures.
- Noah (Kelvin Yu) – Another character Molly meets as she explores her new life. He adds to her journey as she embraces her desires and learns more about herself.
- Gail (Sissy Spacek) – Molly’s mom, who brings a layer of family dynamics and insight into Molly’s background, helping us understand the bigger picture of Molly’s life.
Is ‘Dying for Sex’ based on a podcast?
Yep, “Dying for Sex” actually started out as a podcast from Wondery, based on the real-life story of Molly Kochan and her best friend, Nikki Boyer. The podcast became a hit because Molly didn’t hold anything back, openly sharing the adventures she embarked on after her Stage IV breast cancer diagnosis. Now, FX is bringing Molly’s funny, fearless, and deeply personal journey to TV, with Michelle Williams stepping into Molly’s shoes and Jenny Slate as Nikki.
Who are the creators of ‘Dying for Sex’?
“Dying for Sex” is co-created by Kim Rosenstock and Elizabeth Meriwether, the talented team behind some seriously binge-worthy shows. Meriwether is best known for creating “New Girl,” and Rosenstock wrote and produced episodes of hits like “Only Murders in the Building” and “Single Parents.”
They joined forces to adapt this heartfelt and hilarious true story from the Wondery podcast by Nikki Boyer, who also serves as an executive producer alongside Michelle Williams, Shannon Murphy, Leslye Headland, and Wondery’s Hernan Lopez, Jen Sargent, Marshall Lewy, and Aaron Hart. With this powerhouse team on board, you know the storytelling will be sharp, funny, and deeply moving.