'The People v. O.J. Simpson': New Projects Underway as Hit TV Series Ends
The FX miniseries relives the famous Simpson trial.
— -- Tuesday night’s finale of “American Crime Story: The People v. O.J. Simpson” brought in millions of viewers.
The success of the FX miniseries depicting the famous trial that found Simpson not guilty of the murder of his former wife, Nicole Brown Simpson, and her friend, Ron Goldman, has renewed interest in what was dubbed “the trial of the century.”
Leading up to the “American Crime Story” finale, television viewers could watch a 12-hour marathon that aired highlights from the actual trial.
ESPN is set to air a five-part documentary this June about the rise and fall of Simpson. The documentary is titled “O.J.: Made in America.”
Actor Martin Sheen is also executive producing and narrating a new docuseries that will attempt to show that Simpson is innocent. The docuseries is said to be revealing new evidence behind the deaths of Brown Simpson and Goldman and offering a new theory behind their murders.
The renewed attention on Simpson is happening while the former football star remains behind bars. Simpson is currently serving a sentence of nine to 33 years in a Nevada prison after being convicted of robbery and kidnapping for a 2007 bungled robbery of sports memorabilia Simpson said was stolen from him.
Simpson is eligible for parole next year in the case.
Yale Galanter, who represented Simpson in the robbery case, described the FX miniseries as “mostly fiction.”
“Obviously the TV series takes a point of view that's very favorable to the defense,” Galanter told ABC News. “A lot of it is fact but it's mostly fiction.”
The miniseries features Oscar winner Cuba Gooding Jr. as Simpson. John Travolta, Sarah Paulson and David Schwimmer also star in the series.
Fred Goldman, the father of Ron Goldman, is portrayed in the miniseries. Although he's been watching the series, Goldman said he's unhappy with the attention it's been getting.
“You don't take the slaughter of two people and turn it into a money-making proposition,” Goldman said. “There's plenty of ways to generate money without taking two murders and turn it into entertainment.”
The Goldman family was successful several years ago in gaining ownership through bankruptcy court of the copyright to the manuscript of Simpson's book, "If I Did It: Confessions of the Killer," in order to prevent Simpson from profiting from it sales.
Goldman said his daughter, who is also portrayed in the miniseries, described the renewed interest in the case best by saying it's like pouring salt into an open wound.