David Schwimmer, best known for his roles in the former television series Friends and the Madagascar films, has been cast to star in a key role in the upcoming Ryan Murphy project, American Crime Story: The People v. O.J. Simpson . Schwimmer will play Simpson’s attorney and friend, Robert Kardashian, in the first season of the true crime series.
American Crime Story will follow a formula similar to Murphy’s hit anthology American Horror Story , which features a new story every season. As Robert Kardashian, Mr. Schwimmer will star opposite season one leads Cuba Gooding Jr. (starring as O.J. Simpson) and Sarah Paulson, who will play prosecutor Marcia Clark.
Based on the book by Jeffrey Toobin, The Run of His Life: The People v. O.J. Simpson , the miniseries will focus on the 1995 Simpson murder trial from the perspective of the attorneys involved and will launch a companion series to Murphy’s successful American Horror Story .
“The O.J. case was as tragic as it was fascinating – it seemed like everyone had a stake in the outcome. This is an exciting project for me, as I’ve been looking for the right property which could serve as an extension of the American Horror Story brand I love so much.”
Entertainment Weekly reports that David Schwimmer’s character will be one of the key roles in telling a story about a system that was corrupted by backroom manipulations, courtroom wheeling and dealing, and a history of racism in the LAPD. The result was a mismanaged trial that created confusion and reasonable doubt in the jury.
“The O.J. case was as tragic as it was fascinating — it seemed like everyone had a stake in the outcome. It was really the beginning of the modern tabloid age,” Murphy said.
David Schwimmer most recently guest starred alongside former Friends cast member Lisa Kudrow in the hit TV series Web Therapy , about an emotionally-defunct therapist offering counseling sessions via the internet. Mr. Schwimmer also recently directed Sex with Strangers for the Second Stage Theatre in New York, reports Deadline . This will be the first time Schwimmer has been cast as a regular in a television series since Friends went off the air in 2004.
The first two episodes of American Crime Story , which will go into production in early 2015, will be written by the show’s executive producers, Scott Alexander and Larry Karaszewski.
Earlier this year, the Inquisitr reported on a Friends reunion dinner, hinting at the possibility of a movie .
