Penelope Cruz will take on her first major TV role to star as Donatella Versace in Ryan Murphy’s Versace: American Crime Story.
The Spanish actor and Oscar winner will join the third series of Murphy’s anthology, which began with The People v OJ Simpson in 2016, winning five Emmys, and the forthcoming second season that will focus on the story of Hurricane Katrina.
Versace: American Crime Story will look at the 1997 murder of Gianni Versace, who will be played by Edgar Ramirez, and his killer Andrew Cunanan played by Glee star Darren Criss.
The series will be based on Vanity Fair writer Maureen Orth’s book Vulgar Favors and is expected to air in early 2018. There were rumors that Murphy favorite Lady Gaga, who starred in American Horror Story: Hotel, would play the role of Donatella Versace until Murphy quashed them in January.
For Cruz it will be the first time she takes a regular TV role after recently starring in Zoolander 2 and a run of Spanish dramas and comedies including the well-received Ma Ma.
Murphy has already confirmed season four of American Crime Story will focus on the Monica Lewinsky affair with Bill Clinton.
