“After Molly receives a diagnosis of Stage IV metastatic breast cancer, she decides to leave her husband, Steve and begins to explore the full breadth and complexity of her sexual desires for the first time in her life.”
This isn’t the blurb of a work of fiction but rather, the logline of FX’s new series, Dying For Sex.
The highly anticipated new seres stars is based on a popular podcast of the same name. The Wondery-produced pod was hosted by Nikki Boyer, who spoke to her best friend, Molly Kochan about her sexual escapades after being diagnosed with terminal breast cancer.
The six part series was released in 2020, almost a year after Molly’s death, alongside the memoir Screw Cancer: Becoming Whole which she wrote in the last months of her life.
The podcast is touching, hilarious and utterly heartbreaking, and we have no doubt the show will be just as emotive — especially since it’s got two major names in its cast. The Disney series stars Michelle Williams as Molly, and Jenny Slate as Nikki, and aims to explore female friendship, mortality and female sexuality.
Is Dying For Sex a True Story?
Yes, Dying For Sex is based on the true story of Molly Kochan, whose experience was originally charted in the 2020 Wondery podcast of the same name.
Molly and Nikki were best friends in real life, and it was Nikki who hosted and interviewed Molly on the podcast (which has now amassed over 5 million downloads).
The idea for the podcast came about in 2018, during a lunch date where the two women had discussed two dates Molly had been on that morning. The podcast series unpacks almost 200 of Molly’s hookups, and grapples with the journey that she went on to make herself feel alive, following a cancer diagnosis and the proceeding decision to leave her husband.
However, it appears the show is as much about the friendship between the two women as it is about Molly’s sexual adventures, as Nikki helps guide Molly through, and plays an integral role in, this deeply important time in her life.
What Happened To Molly From Dying For Sex?
Sadly, Molly Kochan passed away in 2019, eight years after she was first diagnosed with breast cancer. She was only 45 years old.
Despite undergoing chemo, a bilateral mastectomy, radiation and breast reconstruction, Molly was re-diagnosed as Stage IV in 2015. It was around then that she decided to end her 15-year marriage and embark on a series of sexual adventures.
The Dying For Sex podcast was released by Nikki, a year after Molly’s death.
Where to Watch Dying For Sex In Australia
Dying for Sex is set to be released in Australia on April 4, 2025. It will be available to stream exclusively on Disney+.
