The news of the death of OJ Simpson It’s only been two weeks and Hollywood already has an ambitious movie planned. Under the direction of Joshua Newton, the film titled The Juice is a “satirical thriller” that will try to unravel the truth behind the most high-profile court case in the United States, defending the supposed innocence of the deceased American football player.
According to The Hollywood Reporter, the project stars Boris Kodjoe (Station 19), who plays Orenthal James “OJ” Simpson. Next to her, the British Charlotte Kirk assumes the role of his wife, Nicole Brown Simpson.
The feature film will carry out a dramatized reconstruction of the events and the subsequent legal battle that captured world attention in 1995. The plot will focus on Douglas McCann, a lawyer who, after Simpson’s acquittal, digs through theories and conspiracies in search of answers.
The cast could have included Owen Wilson as the lead, and although he had the approval of his agent and an offer of USD 12 million, the star of Loki he rejected it indignantly due to the controversial nature of the issue.
“Owen Wilson was perfect for the role,” Newton told the outlet. “I actually had a meeting with him in Santa Monica. Everyone loved the script. His agent wanted him to do it. But at the end of lunch, Owen stood up and said: ‘If you think I’m going to take the lead role in a movie about how OJ didn’t do it, you’ve got to be kidding me.‘”.
The show had to go on, so production got underway without Wilson. The substitute actor has already been hired, although it has not yet been revealed who it is. Newton aims to finish the film by October 3, 2024, coinciding with the 29th anniversary of Simpson’s acquittal in court.
Known as “The Juice,” Simpson stood out as one of the most outstanding and admired athletes of the 60s and 70s. He won the prestigious Heisman Trophy for the best college football player during his time at the University of Southern California and later. He developed a successful career in the NFL, leaving his mark with the Buffalo Bills and the San Francisco 49ers.
His media case began on June 12, 1994, when his wife Nicole Brown Simpson and his friend Ronald Goldman were found dead outside the woman’s residence in Los Angeles. Simpson was arrested after a widely televised vehicle chase, which showed him in a white Ford Bronco driving down highways with police in search of him.
The event was just the beginning of a trial that would last more than a year, characterized by intense debates over evidence, crime scene handling, legal tactics and issues of race. As if it were a sitcomthe legal conflict was notable for those involved, including defense attorneys Johnnie Cochran, Robert Shapiro and Robert Kardashianas well as the fiscal Marcia Clark.
On October 3, 1995, Simpson was found not guilty of the murders, a verdict that divided the nation. But just two years later he faced a civil trial where he was found liable and ordered to pay a significant fine in damages of USD 33.5 million.
Years after his acquittal, Simpson would face legal trouble again and would be convicted in 2008 on robbery and kidnapping charges in Las Vegas. He died in prison from cancer at age 76, “surrounded by children and grandchildren,” according to the statement issued by his family. His body was cremated in the Palm Mortuary from downtown Las Vegas.
