Ryan Murphy is making TV history again with his latest FX drama Pose, with the largest cast of transgender actors in series regular roles ever for a scripted series.

The five transgender actors are MJ Rodriguez, Indya Moore, Dominique Jackson, Hailie Sahar, and Angelica Ross. All will be playing transgender characters.

Also cast in the series are Ryan Jamaal Swain, Billy Porter and Dyllon Burnside along with Emmy winner Tatiana Maslany (Orphan Black), James Van Der Beek, Kate Mara and AHS regular Evan Peters.

Set in the 80s, Pose will look at the rise of the luxury Trump-era universe, the downtown social and literary scene and the ball culture world.

Peters and Mara play New Jersey couple Stan and Patty, who get sucked into the glamour and intrigue of New York City in the 1980s. Van Der Beek plays Peters’s financial kingpin boss Matt. Maslany plays a modern dance teacher who takes a special interest in the talent of Damon (Ryan Jamaal Swain).

MJ Rodriguez, who plays Blanca, has appeared on Nurse Jackie and The Carrie Diaries, and Dominique Jackson (Elektra) is a fashion model and fixture in the current New York ball scene. Hailie Sahar (Lulu) has been seen on Mr. Robot and Transparent. Angelica Ross (Candy) was recently on Transparent as well as on several episodes of Claws.

In conjunction with Murphy’s Half Initiative, the series will bring on emerging transgender directors to be mentored through his Directing Mentorship Program. Leiomy Maldonado (known as the “Wonder Woman of Vogue”) and Danielle Polanco will be choreographing the series’ ball scenes. (Polanco has choreographed for Janet Jackson, Jennifer Lopez and Beyoncé.)

Says co-creator Steven Canals,

“We are thrilled that Pose pushes the narrative forward by centering on the unique and under-told experiences of trans women and gay people of color. Ryan has assembled a strong team of storytellers and innovators to collaborate on telling this important narrative. As a Bronx-bred queer writer of color, I’m honored to aid in ushering this groundbreaking show into homes.”

The pilot of Pose goes into production next month in New York City.

(Photos, publicly shots; via Deadline)