When the debut season of American Crime Story: The People v. O.J. Simpson aired its finale in April, the FX series went down in history as the most-watched new show of the year. The People v. O.J. Simpson, through its career-redefining performances and its deep exploration of the nation's social climate in the mid '90s, gripped viewers and critics alike. Twenty-two Emmy nominations later, American Crime Story producer and director Ryan Murphy is hoping to change the TV game up again by focusing the series' second season on the tragedy of Hurricane Katrina.
"It's an amazing tragedy that you cannot believe happened in America," Murphy told the Hollywood Reporter Wednesday. "But along with the overwhelming horribleness and sadness, you also have amazing stories of [people] coming together." Murphy is using the 2007 Douglas Brinkley novel The Great Deluge as the series' source material, which he hopes will help his team nail down the difficulties in telling such a "sprawling" American story.
"We're laying into what do you do when you're in a city and your government has abandoned you," Murphy told THR. "You get out by climbing up and pulling up people with you, and to a large degree that's what the miniseries is about." D.V. DeVincentis, who wrote the much-discussed "Marcia, Marcia, Marcia" episode of The People v. O.J. Simpson, has taken a "key position" in the writers room for season 2. As for the cast, Murphy said no deals have been made but "some" of the cast from The People v. O.J. Simpson will show up in the 13-to-15 episode new season.
Murphy also confirmed that George W. Bush, Condoleezza Rice, Mayor Ray Nagin, and Governor Kathleen Blanco are among the roles in need of casting. Sadly, he didn't reveal any early favorites as for who might fill those spots. As long as we avoid tapping Josh Brolin to play Bush again, there are no complaints here.
American Crime Story returns to FX in 2017.
