The FX network has announced a Tuesday, February 2 at 10 PM ET/PT premiere date for Ryan Murphy’s “American Crime Story: The People v. O.J. Simpson,” which will unfold over a 10-episode first season (“American Crime Story” will be a new franchise, just like “American Horror Story”). It is based on the book “The Run of His Life: The People v. O.J. Simpson” by Jeffrey Toobin, which provides audiences with a look at the O.J. Simpson trial told from the perspective of the lawyers that explored 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.
So this is much less about the actual crime itself, as the story takes place after their murders (the court trial that followed), and there will be no flashbacks.
Cuba Gooding Jr. plays O.J., while Sarah Paulson is prosecutor Marcia Clark, Courtney B. Vance plays the late Johnny Cochran, David Schwimmer is Robert Kardashian, John Travolta plays Robert Shapiro, and Billy Magnussen as Kato Kaelin.
Sterling K. Brown plays Christopher Darden; Malcolm-Jamal Warner is A.C. Cowlings; Selma Blair is Kris Kardashian; and Connie Britton is Faye Resnick.
The real O.J. Simpson is not involved in the series in any way, nor will he benefit financially from it.
FX has now released a first full trailer for the upcoming series (after several teasers) which is embedded immediately above, followed by all the previous teasers, and character photos.
