Prolific producer Ryan Murphy, whose American Horror Story franchise has reinvented the anthology miniseries format, has come up with his next entry: American Crime Story, a companion anthology focused each season on a different true crime story which made headlines and captivated the imagination of the public. The new franchise has been given a 10-episode straight-to-series order by FX.
The first installment, American Crime Story: The People v. O.J. Simpson is based on the book The Run of His Life: The People v. O.J. Simpson by Jeffrey Toobin. The first two hours of the miniseries will be written by Scott Alexander and Larry Karaszewski. Murphy joins Alexander, Karaszewski, Nina Jacobson, Brad Simpson, Brad Falchuk and Dante Di Loreto as executive producers. Murphy is also set to direct the first episode. Production begins early next year in Los Angeles. It is produced by FX Productions and Fox 21.
American Crime Story: 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.
"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 President 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."
"This is an exciting project for me," added Murphy. "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. 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."
"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. "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."
