Cruz to Portray Donatella Versace in Ryan Murphy’s “Versace: American Crime Story”

Penélope Cruz will be making her U.S. television debut in style…

The 42-year-old Spanish actress will star as Donatella Versace, the sister of murdered fashion designer Gianni Versace, in Versace: American Crime Story, the third installment in the Emmy-winning anthology series from Ryan Murphy, Nina Jacobson and Brad Simpson.

Penelope Cruz

Donatella is a central character in Versace, with the role attracting A-list actresses looking to work with Murphy.

Cruz will star opposite Edgar Ramirez and Darren Criss in the 10-episode limited series, which examines the shocking July 1997 assassination of Gianni (Ramirez) on the steps of his Miami Beach mansion by sociopath and serial killer Andrew Cunanan (Criss).

Versace, from Fox 21 and FX Productions., is based on the book Vulgar Favors by Vanity Fair writer Maureen Orth. Tom Rob Smith is writing the first two and multiple subsequent episodes, and Murphy, who received an Emmy nomination for directing the opening episode of The People v. O.J. Simpsonwill direct the first hour.

Versace will begin production in April in Los Angeles and Miami for a 2018 premiere. It will follow the second installment in the franchise, Katrina: American Crime Story.

This marks the U.S. television debut for Cruz, who won an Oscar in 2009 for Vicky Cristina Barcelona. In 2016, she finished production on Escobar and Murder on the Orient Express.

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