Cuba Gooding Jr stars as O.J. Simpson

BBC Two has acquired 10 part drama The People v. O.J. Simpson: American Crime Story, starring Cuba Gooding Jr and John Travolta.

Based on the book The Run Of His Life: The People v. O.J. Simpson by Jeffrey Toobin, and written by Scott Alexander and Larry Karaszewski (The People v Larry Flynt), the limited series takes audiences inside one of the most famous court cases of all time – the OJ Simpson trial exploring the chaotic, behind-the-scenes dealings and manoeuvring on both sides of the court’s legal teams chaotic, behind-the-scenes dealings and manoeuvring on both sides of the court, and how a combination of prosecution over-confidence, defence shrewdness, and the Los Angeles Police Department’s history with the city’s African-American community gave a jury what it needed: reasonable doubt.

The all-star cast stars Cuba Gooding Jr as O.J. Simpson, John Travolta as defence attorney Robert Shapiro, David Schwimmer as defence attorney Robert Kardashian, Sarah Paulson as prosecutor Marcia Clark, Courtney B Vance as defence attorney Johnnie Cochran, and Bruce Greenwood as Los Angeles County District Attorney Gil Garcetti.

Sue Deeks, Head of BBC Programme Acquisition, adds: “I am so excited for BBC viewers to see this series. The People v. O.J. Simpson is a fascinating and totally absorbing dramatisation of a case seared into the public consciousness. It is a case that you might think you know all about – but believe me, you don’t know the half of it…”

Award-winning producer and director Ryan Murphy (American Horror Story) directed the first episode and serves as one of the executive producers.

The People v. O.J. Simpson is produced by Fox 21 Television Studios and FX Productions, and will begin on BBC Two in February.