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American Crime Story season three will focus on Gianni Versace murder

Gianni Versace

After exploring the OJ Simpson trial and its intense media coverage and the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina in New Orleans, the third season of Ryan Murphy's anthology will focus on the famous Italian fashion designer's murder in 1997, US TV network FX has announced.

Although its second season is yet to be filmed, "American Crime Story" has already been renewed for a third season. What's even more unusual in the world of TV, is that the theme of the true crime anthology's third 10-episode stint has already been unveiled: the murder of Gianni Versace.

The founder of the Italian fashion house, Versace, was found dead July 15, 1997, in front of his Miami villa, with two bullet wounds to the head. Gianni Versace was the last of the five victims murdered by serial killer Andrew Cunanan. The police were never able to establish his true motives, however, as the killer took his own life eight days after the event.

The Versace/Cunanan affair will be filmed in Los Angeles and Miami in spring 2017, at the same time as the anthology's second season, focusing on the damage caused by hurricane Katrina in New Orleans in August 2005. The second season is due to air in 2017, one year ahead of season three, due to land on FX in 2018.

Ryan Murphy is currently in the process of casting this third season. The series creator, who's also set to direct the first episode, is searching for actors to play Gianni Versace and his sister Donatella, who has a major role in the upcoming dramatization. British novelist Tom Rob Smith ("Child 44") will pen the script, with the help of Vanity Fair journalist Maureen Orth's book "Vulgar Favors."

"American Crime Story" launched on FX in February this year, and proved a TV hit with its first season tackling the trial of OJ Simpson and the surrounding media frenzy. Cuba Gooding Jr, John Travolta, David Schwimmer and Courtney B. Vance starred in the 10-episode debut season, which scooped nine Emmy Awards in September, including "Outstanding Limited Series."