The New ‘American Crime Story’ Explores How Gianni Versace’s Murder ‘Could Have Been Avoided’

The new American Crime Story is about more than just ‘90s nostalgia, Miami glamor, and Penelope Cruz’s instantly iconic Donatella Versace. (“I will not allow that man, thatNOBODY, to kill my brother twice.”) I mean, it’s about all of that, of course. But there’s some heavier stuff in there, too!

So say the cast and crew of the FX anthology’s upcoming second season, titled The Assassination of Gianni Versace. In a new “first look” at the series, per E! Online, they explain that the show is interested in looking at the role that cultural and structural homophobia played in the legendary fashion designer’s murder, rather than solely focusing on the murder itself.

“[American Crime Story: The Assassination of Gianni Versace] is about the events leading up to the murder of Gianni Versace,” says actor Edgar Ramírez, who plays the title role. “But also, we’re going to understand how that could have been avoided.”

Andrew Cunanan, played by Glee alum Darren Criss, killed at least four other men before murdering Gianni Versace. In a previous interview with The Hollywood Reporter, executive producer Ryan Murphy said that neither local nor federal law enforcement took the threat Cunanan posed seriously enough, perhaps because most of his victims were all gay men.

“For every season of American Crime Story, what we’re interested in is what makes this is an American crime a crime America is guilty of, not just the characters we’re exploring,” says out executive producer Nina Jacobson.

American Crime Story: The Assassination of Gianni Versace also stars Ricky Martin, Annaleigh Ashford, Dascha Polanco, and Judith Light. Catch the premiere Jan. 17 on FX.

Image via FX