Latest Teaser For THE ASSASSINATION OF GIANNI VERSACE Brings ‘90s Atrocity Home

“What we’re interested in is what makes this an American crime, a crime America is guilty of — not just the characters we’re exploring.”

That's what executive producer Nina Jacobson says about she and Ryan Murphy's FX anthology series American Crime Story. That's an interesting approach to crafting a show, and totally explains why O.J. Simpson's arrest, trial, and acquittal for the murder of his wife, Nicole Brown Simpson, was the perfect subject for the first season of their acclaimed drama (The People v. OJ Simpson). What we witnessed wasn't just celebrity violence, but an act that exposed the racial tensions that tore America apart throughout its sordid history. 

With The Assassination of Gianni Versace, this crew is looking to grab the zeitgeist yet again with another moment of '90s ripped-from-the-headlines violence, using the death of the titular fashion mogul (played here by Edgar Ramirez) as a jumping off point to explore “the politics of homosexuality as they played out across America."

Take a look at this extended teaser for more quotes from the team: 

Masterminded by American Horror Story‘s Ryan Murphy (who also helmed the premiere episode), The Assassination of Gianni Versace also features Ricky Martin as Versace’s longtime love Antonio D’Amico, Penelope Cruz as Versace’s sister, Donatella, and Darren Criss as spree killer Andrew Cunanan. 

The Assassination of Gianni Versace will premiere on FX January 17th at 10 P.M.