Cuba Gooding Jr. To Star As O.J. Simpson In New Miniseries

Cuba Gooding Jr. is set to star as O.J. Simpson in a new FX anthology miniseries entitled “American Crime Story: The People vs. O.J. Simpson.”

The network adds the film will focus on the murder trial involving Simpson, who ultimately was acquitted in the stabbing deaths of his ex-wife and a friend in a case that has widely been described as the “trial of the century.”

Gooding Jr., who won an Oscar in 1996 for his role as fictional football character Rod Tidwell in the movie “Jerry Maguire,” will be joined in the film by Sarah Paulson, who has been cast to play the role of lead prosecutor Marcia Clark.

The film is being further heralded as a story “told from the perspective of lawyers that explores the chaotic behind-the-scenes dealings and maneuvering of on both sides of the court, and how a combination of prosecution confidence, defense wiliness, and the LAPD’s history with the city’s African-American community gave a jury what it needed: reasonable doubt.”

The 67-year-old Simpson played 11 NFL seasons and was elected into the Hall of Fame in 1985. Known as “The Juice,” Simpson is also the first NFL runner to rush for more than 2,000 yards in a season. For his career, the six-time Pro Bowler rushed for 11,236 yards and 61 touchdowns.

In 1995, Simpson was acquitted in the murders of Nicole Brown Simpson and Ronald Goldman, both of whom were found murdered the year before. Two years after the verdict, a civil court awarded a $33.5 million judgment against Simpson.

In 2008, he was sentenced 33-years in prison after being found guilty on armed robbery and kidnapping charges.

[Photo Credit: Neon Tommy]

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