Fans of FX’s show “American Crime Story: The People v. O.J. Simpson” can thank a former “president” for a new addition to what is becoming a catalog of content based on the now-iconic case.
“Hard Evidence: O.J. Is Innocent,” a true-crime docuseries, will be executive produced and narrated by Martin Sheen, according to The Hollywood Reporter. Sheen, still be beloved for his portrayal of President Josiah “Jed” Bartlet on “The West Wing” from 1999-2006, can lend only his voice to the project because his Netflix contract for its series “Grace and Frankie” doesn’t allow him to appear elsewhere onscreen.
The new series will air on the Investigation Discovery channel and investigate claims that Simpson was responsible for the deaths of his ex-wife, Nicole Brown Simpson, and her friend Ron Goldman. Simpson was found innocent in the 1995 criminal trial but found liable in a civil case two years later.
“Hard Evidence” will offer an alternative theory and possible new evidence, based on decades of work by William C. Dear, a private investigator who wrote the 2012 book “O.J. Is Innocent and I Can Prove It.”
Sheen said the project will examine “What if there were enough evidence that proved O.J. Simpson did not murder his ex-wife Nicole or Ron Goldman? What if the real killer were still at large? And finally, what if a grand jury convened to reconsider the case based on new evidence?”
Dear, who met Sheen through his son Charlie Sheen, told The Hollywood Reporter that he is excited as to what the series might yield.
“I’m hoping that when we do this series, the evidence should be more than enough to get a grand jury indictment,” he said. “If I accomplish that, I will have accomplished a great deal in my life. I’ve done the best I can, and I’m excited about the fact that finally I can get it out there.”
“Hard Evidence” will air in 2017.
In addition, this summer, ESPN will feature a five-part docuseries titled “O.J.: Made in America.”