The long-awaited third series of American Crime Story will focus on the Lewinsky-Clinton scandal, it has been announced.
Ryan Murphy, the co-creator of American Crime Story, had been rumoured to be planning a show about the Bill Clinton impeachment trials for some time, but said last year that he would not be going ahead with it unless he could get Monica Lewinsky’s involvement.
“I told her, ‘Nobody should tell your story but you, and it’s kind of gross if they do,’” he told The Hollywood Reporter. “‘If you want to produce it with me, I would love that; but you should be the producer, and you should make all the goddamn money.’”
And while it had seemed as if the project was dead in the water, it’s been confirmed Impeachment: American Crime Story is in the works with US broadcaster FX, with Monica Lewinsky signing on as a producer.
Writing in Vanity Fair, she said: “I was hesitant, and truthfully more than a little scared to sign on. But after a lengthy dinner meeting with Ryan, I came to understand even more clearly how dedicated he is to giving a voice to the marginalised in all of his brilliant work.
“I’m privileged to work with him and the other talented people on the team, and I’m privileged to have this opportunity.”
As if all that wasn’t exciting enough, three big-name castings have already been confirmed, with Beanie Feldstein – of Lady Bird and Booksmart fame – set to play Monica Lewinsky.
Meanwhile, frequent Ryan Murphy collaborator Sarah Paulson will play Linda Tripp, the former US civil servant who became a confidante to Lewinsky, while Annaleigh Ashford will star as Paula Jones, who accused Bill Clinton of sexual harassment, eventually leading to the impeachment trial on which the show has derived its name from.
There’s currently no word on who will play other key players in the trial, including Bill and Hillary Clinton.
Impeachment will be the third series of the anthology show, which focusses on a different true crime story each time.
The first series, The People vs. OJ Simpson, earned Sarah Paulson an Emmy for her portrayal of prosecutor Marcia Clark, as did Darren Criss after playing Andrew Cunanan in the follow-up, The Assassination Of Gianni Versace.
American Crime Story followed the success of Ryan Murphy’s previous anthology show American Horror Story, while he’s also gone on to win critical acclaim for his latest show, Pose.