Back in the 1990s, a murder trial dominated the television airwaves for the better part of two years. That was the trial of O.J. Simpson, a former professional football player and occasional actor who was accused of murdering his wife Nicole Brown Simpson and her friend Ronald Goldman.
For many people, there was enough coverage during that time that they probably wouldn't be too keen to revisit the trial a second time. For the generation that grew up after the trial, though, they might be wondering what their parents are talking about when they make jokes about white Ford Broncos and gloves that don't fit. Now they'll get a chance to find out when FX debuts American Crime Story: The People v. O.J. Simpson.
American Crime Story is an anthology series produced by Ryan Murphy, creator of the similarly-titled Scream Queens. Season one will cover the O.J. Simpson trial, with further seasons to cover other crimes of American origin. The new trailer (see the video above) is the first full one we've seen for the show thus far.
The trailer showcases some of the series' big name stars, such as John Travolta as Robert Shapiro, David Schwimmer as Robert Kardashian, and Cuba Gooding, Jr. as O.J. Simpson. "The trial wasn't the whole story," it promises. "This is." Given that the trial played out in just about the most public way possible over the course of two years, it is a bold statement for the trailer to make.
A poster for American Crime Story: The People v. O.J. Simpson has also been released by FX. Have a look, below:
Unlike other Murphy-produced series, American Crime Story was actually created by Scott Alexander and Larry Kraszewski - the screenwriting duo behind such biopics as Ed Wood, The People vs. Larry Flynt, and Man on the Moon. As such, there's a better chance this TV show will treat the O.J. Simpson murder trial with the seriousness and gravitas that one would expect from a real-life story involving multiple people being murdered. It certainly looks like the actors involved are giving it their all, though, and it's not like the trial didn't already have a certain amount of camp value to begin with.
It's hard to see the appeal of a fictionalized TV version of a true story that played out so publicly on TV in the first place, but maybe enough time has gone by that a whole new generation will get to enjoy the spectacle of watching a very (in)famous person use his money and influence to beat a wrap he was later found culpable for in a civil court and all but confessed to in a tell-all book. Let's just hope the increased attention on O.J. doesn't leader to another Juiced.
American Crime Story: The People v. O.J. Simpson premieres Tuesday, February 2nd, 2016 on FX.
Source: FX Networks