FX has brought on Courtney B. Vance to play O.J. Simpson's defense attorney Johnnie Cochran in American Crime Story. The actor joins Cuba Gooding Jr. as O.J. Simpson, John Travolta as Robert Shapiro, David Schwimmer as Robert Kardashian and Sarah Paulson as Marcia Clark. The 10-episode first season of this anthology series will follow the O.J. Simpson murder trial, based on the book The Run of His Life: The People V. O.J. Simpson by Jeffrey Toobin.

The show is told from the lawyers' perspective, showcasing the behind-the-scenes dealings and how a number of factors, such as overconfidence by the prosecution, sly tactics by the defense, and the L.A.P.D.'s history with the African-American community gave the jury the reasonable doubt they needed to acquit O.J. Simpson. Johnnie Cochran was one of the most outspoken members of O.J.'s legal team, whose phrase "if it doesn't fit, you must acquit" was one of the highlights of the lengthy trial.

Much like its flagship series American Horror Story, and other shows like HBO's True Detective, American Crime Story will focus on a different true crime story each season, with a new cast of characters. Scott Alexander and Larry Karaszewski wrote the pilot script and are executive producing alongside American Horror Story creator Ryan Murphy, Brad Falchuk, Dante Di Loreto, Nina Jacobson and Brad Simpson.

Courtney B. Vance currently stars on NBC's State of Affairs. He will next be seen on the big screen this summer in Terminator Genisys as Miles Dyson. He also starred on NBC's Law & Order: Criminal Intent for five years as A.D.A. Ron Carver.