American Crime Story season 3 will tackle the murder of Gianni Versace

After exploring the OJ Simpson trial and its intense media coverage and the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina in New Orleans, the third season of Ryan Murphy’s anthology series will focus on Gianni Versace’s murder in 1997

After exploring the OJ Simpson trial and its intense media coverage and the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina in New Orleans, the third season of Ryan Murphy’s anthology series will focus on Gianni Versace’s murder in 1997, US TV network FX has announced.

Gianni Versace was the last of the five victims murdered by serial killer Andrew Cunanan. (AFP)

Although its second season is yet to be filmed, American Crime Story has already been renewed for a third season. What’s even more unusual in the world of TV, is that the theme of the true crime anthology’s third 10-episode stint has already been unveiled: the murder of Gianni Versace.

The founder of the Italian fashion house, Versace, was found dead July 15, 1997, in front of his Miami villa, with two bullet wounds to the head.

Gianni Versace was the last of the five victims murdered by serial killer Andrew Cunanan. The police were never able to establish his true motives, however, as the killer took his own life eight days after the event.

Ryan Murphy is currently in the process of casting this third season. The series creator, who’s also set to direct the first episode, is searching for actors to play Gianni Versace and his sister Donatella, who has a major role in the upcoming dramatization. British novelist Tom Rob Smith (Child 44) will pen the script, with the help of Vanity Fair journalist Maureen Orth’s book Vulgar Favors.

American Crime Story launched on FX in February this year, and proved a TV hit with its first season tackling the trial of OJ Simpson and the surrounding media frenzy. Cuba Gooding Jr, John Travolta, David Schwimmer and Courtney B. Vance starred in the 10-episode debut season, which scooped nine Emmy Awards in September, including Outstanding Limited Series.

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