Penelope Cruz Set to Play Donatella Versace in 'Versace: American Crime Story' Season 3
After her stint on "American Horror Story: Hotel" and "Roanoke," Lady Gaga was the fan-favorite and highly rumored choice to play Donatella Versace in Ryan Murphy's other anthology series, "American Crime Story." However, that part has officially gone to Penelope Cruz.
According to The Hollywood Reporter, the Academy Award winner has been cast as the sister of Gianni Versace, the iconic Italian fashion designer who was murdered by Andrew Cunanan in July 1997. Donatella, the artistic director and face of the Versace Group, continued the company when her brother died.
Joining Cruz are Edgar Ramirez and Darren Criss, who are set to portray Gianni and Cunanan, respectively. Tom Rob Smith wrote the first two episodes of the 10-episode season, which will begin filming this month.
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Previous rumors had pointed to Lady Gaga bringing the character to life, but Murphy set the record straight in January. While speaking to Variety, Murphy revealed that he would love to work with the Grammy Award winner again, but "Versace: American Crime Story" does not seem a likely fit given her busy schedule.
"When you're going to do a show like 'Versace,' it's a five-month commitment, it's a very big show, we're shooting it all over the world," he said. "So I just don't think with her schedule, I knew that it would never had worked."
The season will be based on Maureen Orth's book "Vulgar Favors: Andrew Cunanan, Gianni Versace, and the Largest Failed Manhunt in U.S. History." It will mark the FX anthology series' third cycle, following the Hurricane Katrina-based second season titled "Katrina: American Crime Story." Both seasons are set to air in 2018 within six months of each other.
A fourth season is also already in the works and will revolve around former President Bill Clinton's sex scandal with Monica Lewinsky.
The first season of "American Crime Story," titled "The People v. O.J. Simpson," first aired in February 2016.
