Ever eager to relive the mid-1990s, John Travolta has signed on to star in American Crime Story, the upcoming FX series where Ryan Murphy’s usual cavalcade of unbelievable shit meets its real-life analogue in the trial of O.J. Simpson. According to a network press release, Travolta has signed on for his first regular series role since Welcome Back Kotter to play Robert Shapiro, the initial leader of Simpson’s defense team (affectionately known as The Sweathogs). Shapiro became part of the Simpson circus from the moment Simpson ran from police, for reasons that were certainly not damning enough to convict. As such, Travolta—who’s also credited as a producer on the project—will likely be seen in most of the 10-episode series.
Travolta joins a previously announced cast that includes fellow actors who’d like to revisit 1995—Cuba Gooding Jr. as O.J. Simpson, David Schwimmer as defense attorney Robert Kardashian—as well as Ryan Murphy mainstay Sarah Paulson, who plays prosecutor Marcia Clark. Among those still yet to be cast is the flashy, crucial role of Shapiro’s replacement as lead counsel, Johnnie Cochran, a part that Murphy previously hinted he’d like to see go to Travolta’s Pulp Fiction co-star Samuel L. Jackson. Well, the two do have a history of successfully covering up murders together.