Playing a football player won Cuba Gooding Jr. an Oscar . Could playing another -- one who was the focus of `` the trial of the century '' -- win him further accolades ? The actor has been cast as O.J . Simpson in the new FX anthology miniseries `` American Crime Story : The People v. O.J . Simpson , '' the network announced . Gooding won the Academy Award for best actor in a supporting role in 1996 for his performance as wide receiver Rod Tidwell in the film `` Jerry Maguire . '' The new miniseries will focus on the famous trial and according to a statement is `` told from the perspective of the lawyers that explores the chaotic behind-the-scenes dealings and maneuvering 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 miniseries was developed by Ryan Murphy , who created the very successful `` American Horror Story '' anthology franchise for FX . Murphy did n't have to look far for his Marcia Clarke ; the prosecuting attorney will be played by Sarah Paulson , who has appeared in all four seasons of `` American Horror Story . '' Each season of `` American Crime Story '' will delve into a different true crime story that made headlines and captivated the public . The first season is based on the book `` The Run of His Life : The People v. O.J . Simpson '' by CNN legal analyst Jeffrey Toobin . Production is scheduled to begin early next year in Los Angeles .
The actor has been cast in ` ` American Horror Story '' The miniseries comes from ` ` American Horror Story '' creator Ryan Murphy . Sarah Miles is set to play Kate Clarke .