John Travolta joins "American Crime Story" anthology series

PanARMENIAN.Net - John Travolta is back on television. He lands his first major TV role since 1970s' "Welcome Back, Kotter", joining the cast ensemble of "American Crime Story" which is expected to be a true crime anthology series and will focus on O.J. Simpson's sensational murder trial during the first season, AceShowbiz said.

Travolta, who will also receive a producer credit on the show, is tapped to play Robert Shapiro, a pivotal member of Simpson's defense team. He joins Cuba Gooding Jr. as Simpson, David Schwimmer as his attorney Robert Kardashian, and Sarah Paulson as prosecutor Marcia Clark.

Ryan Murphy and Brad Falchuk who worked together on "Glee" and "American Horror Story" are among the producers as well. Based on the book "The Run of His Life: The People v. O.J. Simpson" by Jeffrey Toobin, it explores the chaotic behind-the-scenes dealings and maneuvering on both sides of the court, and how a combination of prosecution overconfidence, defense shrewdness, and the LAPD's history with the city's African-American community gave a jury what it needed: reasonable doubt.