---

FX and Ryan Murphy are expanding the American Horror Story franchise with another anthology series, this time focused on some of the biggest true crime stories. Fittingly, the new series, American Crime Story, is launching with one of the most famous cases of the past few decades: the murder trial of O.J. Simpson. FX has given a 10-episode, straight-to-series order to American Crime Story: The People Vs. O.J. Simpson.

Based on the book The Run of His Life: The People V. O.J. Simpson by Jeffrey Toobin, the first American Crime Story installment will be directed by Murphy from a script by Scott Alexander and Larry Karaszewski (The People Vs. Larry Flynt).

Murphy and fellow AHS co-creator/executive producer Brad Falchuk executive produce along with Nina Jacobson and Brad Simpson (The Hunger Games) as well as Alexander & Karaszewski and Dante Di Loreto. Filming begins early next year in Los Angeles. FXP and Fox 21, the cable division of 20th Century Fox TV where Ryan is based, are producing.

"Time and time again, Ryan Murphy has transformed the medium of television by redefining genres and formats as he did with Nip/Tuck, Glee and the American Horror Story franchise, and we expect the same of American Crime Story,” said FX Networks CEO John Landgraf. “Scott and Larry have adapted Jeffrey Toobin’s book into a masterful 10-hour piece. I have no doubt that Ryan and his partners Nina Jacobson, Brad Simpson, Brad Falchuk, and Dante Di Loreto are going to make something very memorable here – and that it will be a spectacular first entry in what is destined to become a series of great true crime-based miniseries.”

American Crime Story: The People V. O.J. Simpson is a look at the Simpson trial told from the perspective of the lawyers that explores the chaotic behind-the-scenes dealings and maneuvering on both sides of the court, and how a combination of prosecution confidence, defense wiliness, and the LAPD’s history with the city’s black community gave a jury what it needed: reasonable doubt.

“This is an exciting project for me, as I’ve been looking for the right property which could serve as an extension of the American Horror Story brand I love so much,” Murphy said. “The O.J. case was as tragic as it was fascinating — it seemed like everyone had a stake in the outcome. It was really the beginning of the modern tabloid age.”

Like AHS, each season of ACS will tackle a different true crime story. The newest installment in the AHS franchise, American Horror Story: Freak Show, premieres tomorrow night.

“When Ryan has passion for a project, our entire company is energized by his enthusiasm and spectacular talent,” said Fox Television Group chairmen and CEOs Dana Walden and Gary Newman who used the famous moniker of Simpson’s defense team when describing the subspecies of The People vs. O.J. Simpson. “Nothing is more exciting than starting a juicy, new franchise with him, and the team behind-the-scenes is top-notch — a ‘dream team’ that rivals any ever assembled.”

Murphy, repped by CAA and attorney Craig Emmanuel, is coming off a best TV movie Emmy win for his HBO movie The Normal Heart. Jacobson and Simpson are repped by CAA; Alexander and Karaszewski are repped by CAA and attorney Christine Cuddy; and Falchuk is repped by WME and Gendler & Kelly.

The rights for Toobin’s book were repped by ICM Partners.

---

---

---

---

---

---

---

---

---

---

---

---

---

---

---

---

---

---

FX has set Cuba Gooding Jr. and Sarah Paulson for lead roles in American Crime Story: The People v. O.J. Simpson, the first installment of Ryan Murphy’s new anthology miniseries, an offshoot of his hit American Horror Story FX franchise.

Based on the book The Run of His Life: The People v. O.J. Simpson, ACS: The People v. O.J. Simpson is a look at the O.J. Simpson trial told from the perspective of the lawyers that explores the chaotic behind-the-scenes dealings and maneuvering on both sides of the court, and how a combination of prosecution confidence, defense wiliness, and the LAPD’s history with the city’s African-American community gave a jury what it needed: reasonable doubt.

Oscar winner Gooding Jr. will play football star-turned-murder defendant Simpson and Paulson will portray the case’s prosecutor Marcia Clark. The first two hours will be written by Scott Alexander and Larry Karaszewski (The People vs. Larry Flynt), with Murphy set to direct. FXP and Fox 21 Television Studios produce.

Paulson, repped by UTA, is segueing to American Crime Story from flagship American Horror Story where she co-stars in the current installment Freak Show. She earned Emmy nominations for her roles in AHS: Asylum and AHS: Coven.

Gooding Jr., repped by ICM Partners, co-starred in Lee Daniels’ The Butler. He is currently seen in Selma, and co-stars in the upcoming BET miniseries The Book Of Negroes and Comedy Central series Big Time In Hollywood, FL.

Each season of American Crime Story will focus on a different famous true crime. Ryan is executive producing with fellow AHS co-creator Brad Falchuk, Nina Jacobson & Brad Simpson, Alexander, Karaszewski and Dante Di Loreto. Production begins early next year in Los Angeles.

---

---

JOHN TRAVOLTA TAKES STARRING ROLE IN FX'S "AMERICAN CRIME STORY: THE PEOPLE V. O.J. SIMPSON"

Award-Winning Actor and Producer to Play Attorney Robert Shapiro, a Key Member of O.J. Simpson's Defense "Dream Team," and He Will Also Serve as Producer of the 10-Part Miniseries

He Returns to Television for His First Starring Role Since Welcome Back, Kotter

LOS ANGELES, January 7, 2015 - Welcome back indeed! In his first television starring role since Welcome Back, Kotter, award-winning actor and producer John Travolta will star as defense attorney Robert Shapiro in the FX miniseries American Crime Story: The People v. O.J. Simpson, from Executive Producers Ryan Murphy, Nina Jacobson, Brad Simpson, Scott Alexander, Larry Karaszewski, Brad Falchuk, and Dante Di Loreto.

The two-time Academy Award(R) nominated and Golden Globe(R) Award winning Travolta will portray Shapiro, a key member of O.J. Simpson's "Dream Team" during the sensational murder trial. He will also serve as a producer of the 10-part miniseries.

Travolta joins a stellar cast which includes David Schwimmer as O.J. Simpson's confidant and attorney Robert Kardashian, Academy Award winner Cuba Gooding Jr. as O.J. Simpson, and Emmy(R) and Golden Globe Award nominated actress Sarah Paulson as prosecutor Marcia Clark, who currently stars in American Horror Story: Freak Show.

American Crime Story: The People v. O.J. Simpson is written by Golden Globe-winning producers Scott Alexander and Larry Karaszewski (Big Eyes, The People v. Larry Flynt). Emmy and Golden Globe award winning producer and Emmy Award winning Director Ryan Murphy (American Horror Story, The Normal Heart) will direct the first episode. American Crime Story: The People v. O.J. Simpson is produced by Fox 21 Television Studios and FX Productions. Production begins this spring in Los Angeles.


Read more at http://www.thefutoncritic.com/news/2...L83kIdZ3kGy.99

---

---

---

---

---

---

---

---

---

---

---

---

American Crime Story: The People v. O.J. Simpson, the latest limited series from FX, premieres on Tuesday, February 2 at 10 PM ET/PT. Based on the book The Run of His Life: The People V. O.J. Simpson by Jeffrey Toobin, the limited series is a look at the O.J. Simpson trial told from the perspective of the lawyers. It explores the chaotic behind-the-scenes dealings and maneuvering on both sides of the court, and how a combination of prosecution overconfidence, defense shrewdness, and the LAPD's history with the city's African-American community gave a jury what it needed: reasonable doubt. From Executive Producers Ryan Murphy, Nina Jacobson, Brad Simpson, Scott Alexander, Larry Karaszewski and Brad Falchuk, American Crime Story: The People v. O.J. Simpson stars John Travolta, Cuba Gooding Jr., Sarah Paulson, David Schwimmer, Courtney B. Vance, Sterling Brown, Nathan Lane, Kenneth Choi, Christian Clemenson and Bruce Greenwood. The limited series is produced by Fox 21 Television Studios and FX Productions.


PRINCIPAL CAST INFORMATION:
· Angel Parker as Shawn Chapman
· Billy Magnussen as Kato Kaelin
· Bruce Greenwood as Gil Garcetti
· Cheryl Ladd as Linell Shapiro
· Connie Britton as Faye Resnick
· Courtney B. Vance as Johnnie Cochran
· Cuba Gooding Jr. as O.J. Simpson
· David Schwimmer as Robert Kardashian
· Evan Handler as Alan Dershowitz
· Jake Koeppl as Ron Goldman
· John Travolta as Robert Shapiro
· Jordana Brewster as Denise Brown
· Joseph Siravo as Fred Goldman
· Keesha Sharp as Dale Cochran
· Kenneth Choi as Lance Ito
· Leonard Roberts as Dennis Schatzman
· Malcolm-Jamal Warner as Al "A.C." Cowlings
· Nathan Lane as F. Lee Bailey
· Rob Morrow as Barry Scheck
· Sarah Paulson as Marcia Clark
· Selma Blair as Kris Jenner
· Sterling K. Brown as Christopher Darden
· Steven Pasquale as Mark Fuhrman
· Tye White as Jason Simpson

CREW INFORMATION:
· Brad Falchuk as EP
· Brad Simpson as EP
· Dante Di Loreto as EP
· Jeffrey Toobin as BOOK
· Larry Karaszewski as CRTR/EP
· Nina Jacobson as EP
· Ryan Murphy as EP/DIR (Pilot)
· Scott Alexander as CRTR/EP

---