Friday, November 22, 2024

Exclusive: OJ Simpson Story with Cuba Gooding Adds David Schwimmer, Paging Samuel L. Jackson

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The OJ Simpson story, as you may know, is coming to FX. Cuba Gooding Jr. is playing Simpson and Sarah Paulson is taking the role of failed prosecutor Marcia Clark. The 10 part series is Ryan Murphy’s “American Crime Story,” the next series that replaces “American Horror Story.”

But there’s more. I am told that an offer is out to “Friends” star David Schwimmer to play Simpson friend, lawyer and possible co-conspirator Robert Kardashian (yes, he left us that family of tacky, avaricious publicity hounds). If Schwimmer doesn’t commit, I’ve heard that Tim Roth has actually asked to play the part.

On top of that, the word is that Murphy wants Samuel L. Jackson to play Johnny Cochran, Simpson’s famous lawyer who coined the phrase: “If it doesn’t fit you must acquit.” No word if Jackson will take the role. An offer is also out for someone to play Kato Kaelin.

Sources say there will be no Nicole Brown or Ronald Goldman cast as the story takes place beginning on the morning after the murders. There are no flashbacks, either. It’s just everything moving forward from June 12, 1994 through the trial and Simpson’s acquittal.

Simpson, it must be pointed out, has nothing to do with the series, and won’t benefit financially. He remains in prison on his kidnapping and armed robbery charges in a separate incident.

Roger Friedman
Roger Friedmanhttps://www.showbiz411.com
Roger Friedman began his Showbiz411 column in April 2009 after 10 years with Fox News, where he created the Fox411 column. His movie reviews are carried by Rotten Tomatoes, and he is a member of both the movie and TV branches of the Critics Choice Awards. His articles have appeared in dozens of publications over the years including New York Magazine, where he wrote the Intelligencer column in the mid 90s and covered the OJ Simpson trial, and Fox News (when it wasn't so crazy) where he covered Michael Jackson. He is also the writer and co-producer of "Only the Strong Survive," a selection of the Cannes, Sundance, and Telluride Film festivals, directed by DA Pennebaker and Chris Hegedus.

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