American Crime Story: Versace murder confirmed for season 3
“I was always very moved and freaked out by the Versace assassination," the director says, confirming rumours of a new season.
Monday 31 October 2016 12:22, UK
American Crime Story director Ryan Murphy has confirmed rumours of a season focused on the murder of fashion icon Gianni Versace.
Murphy revealed details for a third season of his Emmy-winning show to a panel at Entertainment Weekly's PopFest on Sunday.
"I was always very moved and freaked out by the Versace assassination," Murphy said.
"And I thought it was a really great story to do because it's a manhunt season."
The People v. O.J. Simpson - American Crime Story's first season - focused on the infamous murder trial of Nicole Brown-Simpson and Ronald Goldman in 1994.
Creator Ryan Murphy received nine Primetime Emmys, including the award for Outstanding Limited Series.
American Crime Story is an anthology series, and Murphy has previously announced that season two will focus on the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina.
But on Sunday's panel, Murphy focused on the importance of the Versace murder for season three.
"The tragedy of the Versace murder was that it should not have happened. He should have been caught by then," he said.
Fashion designer Gianni Versace was murdered outside his Miami Beach house in July 1997 by serial killer Andrew Cunanan.
Cunanan used the same gun to commit suicide eight days later.
"He killed four people and then Versace, and was on the loose," Murphy said.
"He wasn't caught because he was targeting gay people, and people didn't care."
Murphy did not confirm or deny rumours that singer Lady Gaga - who has previously worked with the director - would play the fashion icon's sister Donatella Versace.
He did announce a crossover season for his other Emmy-winning series American Horror Story.
"We do know what we're going to do," Murphy told the LA crowd.
"We are going to do a season that's a crossover between Murder House and Coven together - which is very bizarre."
Murphy is also the name behind Golden Globe-winning series Glee and Scream Queens.
American Crime Story will return in February 2017 for season 2.
"It's a really tragic story and I've always said the thing that makes me cry the most in the world is lost potential, or lost possibility, and I think he was such an amazing force taken too soon for reasons which he shouldn't have been," he said about the upcoming season.
"That is a true crime story in America, so we're tackling that."