Ryan Murphy’s Next American Crime Story Will be About Gianna Versace

Ryan Murphy’s (Glee, American Horror Story) critically acclaimed anthology American Crime Story has been pushed back to air the next cycle until early 2018.

The second cycle was originally slotted to be Katrina: American Crime Story. Instead, Versace: American Crime Story will air first in early 2018 and Katrina will follow in late 2018.  

Katrina will focus on Hurricane Katrina and the aftermath. The script is based off of the book The Great Deluge by Douglas Brinkley. The switch is happening due to additional time needed to create special effects to re-create the hurricane. Not only this, but filming in New Orleans during hurricane season as well as the cast’s schedule have been cited as other reasons for the delay in production. The cycle is set to star Annette Bening, Sarah Paulson, Cuba Gooding Jr., Courtney B. Vance, Matthew Broderick, and Dennis Quaid.

Instead, Versace will air first. This season will chronicle the assassination of fashion designer Gianni Versace in July 1997 by serial killer Andrew Cunanan. The season is based on Maureen Orth’s Vulgar Favors: Andrew Cunanan, Gianni Versace and the Largest Failed Manhunt in U.S. History. The cast will include Edgar Ramirez, Darren Criss, Penelope Cruz, and Ricky Martin.

Although the anthology will be taking a long hiatus in 2017, both seasons will air within six months of each other and coming in the wake of the nine Emmy wins that The People vs. O.J. Simpson gathered. Murphy along with Nina Jacobson, Brad Simpson, Brad Falchuk, and Tom Rob Smith exec produced The People vs. O.J.  and will also be exec producing Versace.

A fourth season is already being planned and will explore the Monica Lewinsky scandal.