'American Crime Story' season 3 news, release date: Season 3 takes on Gianni Versace murder
FX renewed its award-winning anthology "American Crime Story" for a third season that will focus on the 1997 killing of fashion designer Gianni Versace.
The Versace-themed season 3 will follow the second installment of "American Crime Story," which will tackle the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina. The O.J. Simpson-themed freshman run of the highly acclaimed FX anthology aired earlier this year and was a big winner at this year's Emmys, taking home nine trophies, including the one for best limited series.
Season 3 will be titled "Versace/Cunanan: American Crime Story," The Hollywood Reporter has learned. The 10-episode "American Crime Story" season 3 will be based on the book "Vulgar Favors" by Vanity Fair writer Maureen Orth. Tom Rob Smith is attached to pen the first two episodes of the season, as well as multiple subsequent episodes.
Executive producer Ryan Murphy, who earned an Emmy nomination for his work on the premiere episode of "American Crime Story" season 1, is expected to helm both the season 2 and season 3 openers.
Versace, the world-renowned designer behind the fashion house of the same name, was 50 years old when he was shot and killed by 27-year-old serial killer Andrew Cunanan on July 15, 1997. He died on the steps of his Miami Beach mansion. Cunanan committed suicide in a house boat eight days later. Versace was his fifth and final victim in a string of killings that began in April that year.
Police have never established Cunanan's motives for killing the talented fashion designer.
According to Deadline, "American Crime Story" season 3 will be filmed concurrently with season 2. This was reportedly not the original plan but FX executives were so impressed by Smith's first script that they moved the production date for season 3. The premiere episode is expected to be filmed in Miami and Los Angeles in the spring.
The outlet also reported that the "American Crime Story" producers are already casting the title roles for season 3 and that an A-list actress is in talks to play the role of Donatella Versace, Gianni's sister.
"American Crime Story" season 3 will air after "Katrina: American Crime Story," which will debut in 2017.