Cuba Gooding Jr. to Play O.J. Simpson in AMERICAN CRIME STORY
It was previously reported that American Horror Story creator Ryan Murphy was developing a companion series called American Crime Story. The new anthology series will focus on true crime stories throughout history, and they are starting with O.J. Simpson. The first season of the series will be called American Crime Story: The People Vs. O.J. Simpson, and they’ve cast Academy Award winner Cuba Gooding Jr. as Simpson. American Horror Story alum Sarah Paulson has also joined the production as prosecutor Marcia Rachel Clark.
According to THR, the 10-episode first season “examines the O.J. Simpson trial as told from the perspective of the lawyers, and is poised to explore the chaotic behind-the-scenes dealings and maneuvering on both sides of the court. More significantly, it will display 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.”
The O.J. Simpson trial was a fascinating moment in history, and just like the trial back in the 1990s, I'm sure this new series will get the attention of audiences. This also seems like the kind of role that could reinvigorate Gooding Jr.'s career.