The Assassination of Gianni Versace | Inside Season 2: Darren Criss as Andrew Cunanan | FX

Extremely charming. Extremely dangerous. Take a look inside the troubled life of Andrew Cunanan with the cast and crew.
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Inspired by actual events, The Assassination of Gianni Versace: American Crime Story is the second installment of FX’s award-winning limited series, American Crime Story.
Ryan Murphy, Nina Jacobson, Brad Simpson, Alexis Martin Woodall, Tom Rob Smith, Dan Minahan, Scott Alexander and Larry Karaszewski are Executive Producers of The Assassination of Gianni Versace: American Crime Story. It is written by Tom Rob Smith, and Ryan Murphy directed the premiere episode of the series, which stars Edgar Ramirez, Darren Criss, Ricky Martin and Penelope Cruz. The series is produced by Fox 21 Television Studios and FX Productions.
FX’s first installment of ACS, The People v. O.J. Simpson: American Crime Story, garnered 9 Emmy Awards while collecting 22 nominations. As one of the most critically acclaimed programs of 2016, it also won Golden Globe, BAFTA, AFI, PGA, WGA and TCA awards.
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The Assassination of Gianni Versace | Inside Season 2: Darren Criss as Andrew Cunanan | FX
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[@SLa-pb1gg]

Darren did his homework on Cunanan. He really sunk his teeth into this role. I hope he gets so many awards for this role. He deserves it.

[@thevigilante5623]

S La I agree, his role as Cunanan is simply amazing, despite the lack of information of him.

[@SLa-pb1gg]

Ethan Lin It’s weird how this murder is almost forgotten. It’s just not widely talked about.

[@thevigilante5623]

S La I think it’s simply because no one really knows why Cunanan did it.

[@SLa-pb1gg]

Ethan Lin I think that would make it even more interesting to discuss. I am a lover of the True Crime genre so this case was always on my list of interesting cases to watch and discuss

[@velvetraptor8540]

Yes, I was very impressed.

[@livydijoseph5659]

Darren is a fantastic actor. People really underestimate him because he was on glee, but his performance in this show is truly haunting and beautiful. Cheers xx

[@joejoe5673]

Livy DiJoseph Glee was great and so was Darren (on Glee)

[@stephaniel2850]

Honestly, I feel like a lot of people totally underrated his acting *on* Glee! What really strikes me, watching the show back, is the fact that Blaine was kind of a blank slate for quite a while, with Darren not having a whole lot to work from in terms of character. So much of what made the character work in season 2 was a) Darren's sheer charisma/charm, and b) all the of the character development that had been established for *Kurt* in season 1. Blaine basically served as someone who could be a viable romantic interest for Kurt, and because we were so invested in *Kurt* finding that kind of happiness, it was super easy to get swept up in flirty-ness and romantic possibility of it all. But in Blaine in his own right... we didn't really know much about it him. And THEN, in season 3 - I'm convinced that this is a result of their deciding to make Blaine a junior when Kurt was a senior - they suddenly did a stark change in character. Not that he wasn't still dapper, but his character development became increasingly... less secure and a bit needy. Which isn't necessarily a bad thing, except they never really developed him enough for us to see WHY he would be that way. He got some more emotional moments, but they weren't really well grounded or developed in the way that, say, Kurt's emotional moments with Burt were. It's like they said "we need to give Blaine some character traits besides being charming, so lets make him ~insecure~!" Anyway, all of this is to say: I think Darren did a *much* better job navigating all of that then perhaps some people realize. I think some people found Blaine as a character "annoying", and so they attributed that to Darren's acting, but in fact what they were really finding annoying was what the writers had done to Blaine's *character* . Darren, for his part, always sold everything he was given to work with in my book! And he made that character change from season 2 to season 3+ a lot more seamless, I think, than it might have been in the hands of a lesser actor.

[@Ranaluv77]

But glee was an amazing show. Usually anything Ryan Murphy shows are great.

[@Godlovesyouall12]

Any role he does he just does it perfectly

[@cowboylikemax]

@@stephaniel2850 you wrote this 3 years ago but you’re so right for that. glee viewers love to blame darren for the writers’ conscious decisions when it comes to blaine (he got too many solos bc darren was the favorite, he was annoying bc darren can’t act) when no one could’ve played that character as well as he has

[@velvetraptor8540]

Darren is a knock out as Cunanen. I don't think I've ever seen an actor get under a character's skin like this. I hope this is a big launching platform for him.

[@RaymondHng]

Have you seen Criss in any other roles? If so, how do they compare with this one?

[@velvetraptor8540]

I never heard of him before, but I'd bet money he's going to be huge. I'd like to see if I can find him in other roles. Somebody in the Comments said "Emmy". Got my vote.

[@RaymondHng]

He's known for playing Blaine Anderson on _Glee_ kzbin.info?search_query=darren+criss+glee and the title role in _Hedwig and the Angry Inch_ kzbin.info?search_query=darren+criss+hedwig

[@dore9195]

Darren is well-known already. He was phenomenal in Glee. Not to mention he sings super well...

[@livydijoseph5659]

Even though a gauge platform already knows of him, I’m sure this will kickstart his more mainstream career.

[@rocknroll20024]

Emmy win for Darren

[@eliyanongusa3880]

tara thelen you called it

[@hannahvance3798]

i love Darren as Andrew

[@luckyDancer100]

Darren was phenomenal! I hope he gets an Emmy for his portrayal.

[@gsabax]

hands down to Darren's acting here! He really should receive multiple awards!

[@lanathomas8866]

golden globes are airing I heard this week.~ Darren is up again!

[@MayLily]

Wow, can't believe it's been 5 years since Darren Criss starred in this series and won all the acting awards as well. Also, it's been 8 years since Glee ended! Where has the time gone??

[@pfloydsux]

The thing I found so fascinating is how Darren did no Blaine faces the entire time except for a small handful. He is so expressive he was able to dive so deeply into this character that none of his previous work came out at all. That is a huge talent right there.

[@KidDynamite6]

he legit killed this role i was impressed after studying the case he really studied him inside and out..hes a talented dude

[@mynameissarah5117]

Thank you Ryan Murphy for casting Darren as Cunanan because no one else could have done it 💖

[@lechuga777lechuga]

My Name Is Sarah he played the character too well. Gave me the creeps. Lol......

[@julescbernardo]

He’s so great. Wow

[@jamienicole6951]

I’ve loved Darren since avpm and he absolutely killed this role. He really deserves all of the awards he’s been winning and many more.

[@amandaljohnson]

It's weird that both of my high school crushes are playing serial killers this year. Darren and Zac Efron

[@Tytytytyty1776]

Ok creep

[@Lausanne28]

Yes, both Darren Criss and Zac Efron were teenage heart throbs, and both are playing serial killers. I understand what she's saying. She's not saying that she loves Andrew Cunanan & Ted Bundy. She likes the actors, Darren Criss and Zac Efron, not the serial killers they're portraying.

[@amandaljohnson]

Lausanne28 thank you for understanding !!!!

[@rosericorico4980]

IKR 😍

[@lovethatdirtywater78]

Cunanan was a spree killer, not a serial killer. Spree killers kill two or more victims with virtually no time in between the killings, whereas serial killers have a characteristic "cooling off" period in between victims.

[@duncancooper5305]

This series blew me away! Darren was beyond spectacular! A proper work of art!

[@taurie55]

He is amazing as Andrew. I love this Role for him.

[@livydijoseph5659]

Darren is such a daddy

[@minni3723]

He just fit this show like a glove

[@bisayakaayo8595]

amazing performance of darren criss, he looks like andrew reincarnated so beautiful yet so sinister and eveil!

[@alicecollignon1149]

1:22 all the glee fans going crazy😂😂😂😂

[@error_delete_8739]

Alice Collignon FUCKING DEADASS

[@ling_a_bling]

IS THAT INTENDED THO

[@cadiecooper6479]

EXACTLY

[@marisacabrals]

FOR REALL

[@janbarnachea8537]

Legit almost spilled my chips when I saw Kurt on the passport 💀

[@jessicaang878]

An Emmy contender

[@detestor420]

One of the best series ever made. I’ve watched it 5x

[@waltuhwhite24]

gosh Darren Criss😍

[@stanleycoleman]

what an incredibly complicated character/person that Andrew was...

[@jeffhandley3224]

Entitled narcissist and psychopath all because his dad

[@imagineaworldlikethat4081]

Darren shocked me and terrified me as this role.

[@Bloooo95]

Didn’t think it was possible to hate Darren Criss’s face. But he nailed this role and I hated him all the more for it. He really gave such a frighteningly believable performance.

[@ckotcher1]

Andrew sure loved duct tape. They should have called this show “Andrew, Gianni and a whole lotta duct tape”

[@loveinspired7]

My God, he really does look like Andrew Cunanan. I haven't seen such perfect casting since...."Popeye The Movie" (1980).

[@jimmycmartinez]

Golden Globes and Emmys for sure!!

[@laminage]

God, Darren Criss "Owned" the Role of Andrew Cunanan. There was something so bone chilling about the Man and what he did. When they went into the Club, and Andrew "Met" Versace and gave his Friend the Brushoff who helped him get into the VIP Section, felt so bad for him. The Poor Fellow realized that Andrew "Used" Him. The VIP Section reminded me so much of Studio 54 where "Certain Folks" were allowed to hang out. Grace Jones, Yves St. Laurent, Halston, David Geffen, and of course Steve Rubell (The Co-Owner).

[@charlotted1321]

Its been years but i always come back to darren and this serious, my pride will never cease, when he swiped every award, so deserved

[@snoopdoggsbluntroller]

Ahhhh omg I cant wait for more episodes

[@TTCandlevibe]

Susie Stewart This show is so addicting.

[@chloefaith9559]

This show is amazing. And Darren is absolutely brilliant as Andrew.

[@VictoriaWonders]

this actor is so amazing

[@mariabarrera1579]

Love this actor

[@dianegonzalez4748]

I knew this would be good. I have not watched it yet. Let's not,forget this was a horrific event for those he loved and who loved him. It seems plenty of glory for one who caused such pain. .

[@muscovy5000]

Awesome portrayal

[@chiyanlatv8189]

This was another good season!!! Loved the whole cast

[@stregadisalem732]

I wish Versace wasn't in big blown up letters compared to "the assassination of" because this show is more about Cunanan than Gianni.

[@Lausanne28]

It should be about Cunanan and Versace, the main characters in the story. Versace is the famous person. This wouldn't even be a story without him. If Cunanan had murdered a regular person, this wouldn't even be a tv series.

[@evelynsaungikar3553]

Lausanne28 : That’s the whole point. No one cared about gay on gay murder until someone famous was killed.

[@bcbock]

He did kill regular people, including a man he presumably never met before. They put Versace in the title because otherwise who would watch a show called Andrew Cunanan. Hardly anyone remembers him because as this video says, nobody really knew anything true about him.

[@xxShellyBeanxx]

In the past episodes it was mainly about andrew except for the first episode...but i think in the next episodes it will really focus more on versace then andrew. I hope so at least...

[@blerksnarfgut7332]

xxShellyBeanxx I agree. I didn't like the last episode. Not that it was bad, per se, but it was just too much about Andrew and his own circle. There's a lot of peripheral people appearing in the show who don't have anything directly to do with the Versace and Cunanan storyline. It feels like they're stretching out the plot way too much in order to fill the hour slot and to justify making this a show as opposed to a movie.

[@marcdavis2745]

Darren Criss Was Electrifying

[@micdom43]

Very well done very believable

[@lestertan8811]

Just finished the series on netflix and its my favorite now

[@deannajuan]

damn darren is such a great actor. plus if i was him i wouldn’t have the guts to kiss an old man lmao.

[@Alwaysasweetpea]

He is so good!! I'm so involve in this since day one! His acting is impeccable and quite scary 😂 so into the character!!

[@sofiyachaudhari6245]

the actor is so good and he looks just as real Andrew.

[@angieestacio4498]

Andrew cunana el verdadero Si d'a miedo este actor es simpatico

[@silasleal646]

Fofíssimo!! ❤️❤️

[@Fabo100]

One of the best performances ever...thisnisnuo there with Yont Soprano and Wlater White. He killed it!! No pun intended 😂

[@briisawhoreheckyeah7706]

I love Andrew❤

[@savagemaster344]

1:06 - My father was a military man. He was a pilot for Imelda Marcos. The first lady of the Philippines.

[@hammondswiss247]

i got here simply by being born in the same town as cunanan and it’s funny seeing this place thinking that he could possibly sell people on being high class.

[@marcorivas4730]

Anyone know what kind of lenses is he using in the film

[@Tedtopdawg]

He also kinda looks like him . Lmaooo bravo!

[@babyrainbowwaffleolsen8586]

I know I sound dumb, but why kill people? What did Versace do into him??! It just so senseless...

[@bcbock]

Probably nothing. What did any of the people killed do to him? Nobody knows because it was likely in his head. This show is a fiction. Nobody knows why he did anything he did. Obviously all the dialogue is made up because it happened among dead people who never had a chance to tell anyone what was said.

[@jedigirl4life]

To this day, nobody knows for sure his motivation to kill Versace. Could be out of jealousy as many have speculated.

[@lanathomas8866]

Brian Bock, Actually it is based on a real book based on 400 interviews from Andrews friends and family. The DIALOG had to change because the witnesses to the murders are dead. (They threw in some gay glamour because Andrew and Versace were gay.) Back to the story, there was a street witness who saw Andrew kill Versace in front of her. The whole facts/story is real down to the investigators, David, Jeff, and Lizzie, the friend called Ronnie at the Normandy plaza, Miriam at the office. All are real.

[@lanathomas8866]

You are right, the reason why?? In Maureen Orth's non-fiction book, the police tie Andrew's visits to a Las Vegas gay bathhouse. TRUTH IS; The owner of the blue boathouse also owned the SAME gay LV bathhouse among other dealings. A fact by the FBI, South Beach is so mob related, it is true Versace had a lot of friends... Speculation. perhaps Andrew was used as a fall guy? AND... jealous of Versace too. He mentioned to many he hated Versace.

[@lanathomas8866]

Read my response to Brian Brock.@@jedigirl4life

[@livelovelaugh9820]

Damn Shmidt what happend

[@amarikey5465]

Darren criss played music meister on the flash

[@velvetraptor8540]

Sorry for the ignorance but is there going to be more of this? Second season? Also, I've missed an episode. Can I see it somewhere? Thanks

[@Fabo100]

He was unbelievable as Andrew Cunanan. I really got lost in his world when I watched it in 3 days. The story was so fascinating to me. Like most people the troubled ones spark my interest. Andrew wasnt an anti-hero but this show is similar to that idea, like Tony Soprano and Walter White, we follow the journey of a sick, twisted, horrible persons life yet we want to understand how they became a monster. What redeeming qualities do they have, it's almost like we want to feel pity and understand but at the end of the day there is no excuse. Even if most of us think about doing bad things we.usually never do and that's what separates us from psycho and sociopaths. Andrew was a pure psychopath, Tony Soprano was a sociopath, and Walter White just experienced too much and it slowly changed his motives in life and what's important

[@feviej8507]

Omg .. blaine

[@BingQilin]

Darren's using the Blaine voice I love it

[@JM-fk3ck]

cody should turn into michael

[@sierramarie8059]

anyone know where to watch this online?!

[@Michael21812]

Sierra Marie FX on demand

[@Doukourenyc]

Sierra Marie it’s on Netflix now

[@noemiarmas5773]

Devil may Cry Series in Disney Plus Lady Mary Adren Cho Trish Dove Cameron Dante Noah Centineo Nero Darren Criss Nico Ruby Rose Angel Girl Liu Liyfe aka when love becomes Dragon-Slayer

[@noemiarmas5773]

Darren Is Sexiest Man Alive Empire Update Darren Criss and His Girlfriend G DLE jeon-Soyeon

[@noemiarmas5773]

Daren Criss As KDA Peter Parker Spider-Man And Arden Cho As Slik Cindy Moon spider-Star Ricky Martin as KDA Spider-lord And Rose’ as KDA Spider-Star

[@darenvega4737]

Hey my name is Daren ! But with one R

[@jackieclan815]

Hey Daren!

[@noemiarmas5773]

Lady Mary Adren Cho Trish Dove Cameron Dante Noah Centineo Nico Ruby Rose Angel Liu Liyfe

[@danaarmas956]

Except for Mia Darling & KeSha Of (IMAGINE DRAGONS)

[@marcdavis2745]

A Terrible Loss

[@chellbie]

He wanted people to like him. Quite sad really

[@HedgehogPhil]

My only issue is everyone involved on the series made loads of money from horrendous murders. The only reason to make it was to make money. It is not a really a cautionary tale since it is history and crimes like this are rare. Thankfully.

[@spieraldi1973]

Liar

[@error_delete_8739]

GOD WHY IS HE SO FUCKING DADDY!!!!!!!!!! OMFG YES BITCH WHAT SHOW IS THIS ON!?! THE NAME OF THE SHOW PLEASE!!!

[@1alvin1990]

This makes me not like him supper creepy

[@theguythatshotdraketheguyt53]

This is the worst episode of glee

[@teeniebeenie8774]

Darren is the weakest one in it alas...

[@bcbock]

OH, no. That would be Ricky Martin.

[@blerksnarfgut7332]

I'm not a big fan of Darren in this either. It's obvious that he did his homework on Andrew Cunanan and probably mental illness, too, but he's lacking a certain charisma. I don't know what it is; his acting just feels forced somehow. To me, his portrayal of Cunanan is to this season what Cuba Gooding Jr's portrayal of O J Simpson was to last season; both talented actors who are lacking in their roles.

[@stephaniel2850]

I personally found Cuba Gooding Jr. to be faaaar weaker than Darren... not even comparable haha. *** Warning: Sorry, this became, like, a legit super long essay! haha. I have many thoughts on Darren's performance :) *** The thing about Darren's performance is that, yes, there are times when it feels like he's forcing it, but that's because *Andrew* as a character puts on all kinds of fronts. And while Andrew was indeed known to be quite charming and charismatic, because of the way the story is structured, we spend probably about 3/4 of the episodes seeing him at the point when a) he's becoming increasingly more and more unhinged, and b) the other people in his life ARE catching on to just how pathological his behavior is. So the fact that he comes off as forced and phony and trying too hard... that's not Darren as an actor over-acting, it's Andrew as a character becoming increasingly bad at getting people to buy into his charms, and increasingly more desperate. But what I found so striking about Darren's performance is that, right underneath that purposely performative quality, I feel there is quite a great deal of emotional truth. For instance, even when we're at the height of Andrew at his very worst and most deplorable in House by the Lake, there's that scene with the song at the bar... and in that particular moment, there's nothing performative there. It's just a rare, honest moment of hurt, and even though you can't really feel *sorry* for him given how psychopathic he is, it lays the groundwork that that hurt is there and it's real, so that when we get to the later episodes going further back in time, it starts to click into place and we come to develop a certain degree of empathy for him, or at least an understanding of the tragedy that this kid with a lot of potential could become someone so destructive. There's also this scene, which is one of my favorites: kzbin.info/www/bejne/anqkiHpjfKaGn7c In the beginning, sure, Andrew is doing his usual and going out of his way to try and impress David, but then when David gets to telling his story... Andrew doesn't even say anything that whole time, but it's incredible to me how much Darren communicates just through his reactions. You see so clearly how all of the pretense is gone and there's such an honesty and vulnerability in how he looks at him that is breathtaking. And then there's episode 8 (Creator/Destroyer), and THAT, I think, is the first time we truly see the genuine charm that people who knew him in his youth refer to. And I think Darren absolutely sold that in a way that was distinctly different from his "trying too hard to sell himself" quality. The Andrew we see in that episode IS genuinely likable and vivacious, and sure, still out for attention, but it's in a fun and even kind of badass way at this point. And I think it's a testament to Darren's acting that the very last scene of the episode is so chilling, not because he's actually outright dangerous yet, but because we see that nuanced switch go off where he turns from the genuinely charming and likable kid we saw dancing around and being fabulous in a red leather jumpsuit, to the Andrew we'd come to know from prior episodes who exists in a state of performative lies. So yeah, needless to say: I found Darren's performance to be brilliant, and far more nuanced than a lot of ways that people tend to play psychopathic killers! Darren still approached the role with a great deal of humanity, and it moved me as much as it terrified me.

[@bigbearn1383]

BS psychology It 's vices gone wrong. It's called mortal sin. Only God can judge the soul. Another film to sympathise with sin and make it appealing , mysterious and noble.. Satan's work.

[@bcbock]

You obviously did not watch it. It doesn’t make what he did appealing or noble. As for mysterious, that’s exactly what it is. NOBODY knows what motivated him or what he said to any of his victims. The show manufactures scenes and dialog for dramatic purpose, but that purpose is not to make the killer look good. He doesn’t. You come away from the show thinking “Man… this guy was one twisted, fucked up, evil monster.” It does, however humanize his victims.Criss is talking about HIS perspective as someone performing this character. But ti’s not the overall effect.

[@stephaniel2850]

+Brian Bock Agreed that the show in NO way, whatsoever, makes what Cunanan did out to be appealing or noble or even remotely justified. It's horrific, brutal, and twisted, and I deeply appreciated how much time they spent letting us get to know the victims and their loved ones. Just in fairness, though, for as much as the show does not forgive (or ask anyone else to forgive) what Andrew ultimately did, I did come away from the whole series with a deep sense of sadness for ALL involved- Andrew himself included, that he ever got to that place to begin with. I think what the show (and Darren's performance) does really well is allow you to extend a certain amount of empathy toward Andrew without exonerating the monster he became. You come to see all the potential he had as a child, and you think... this wasn't a foregone conclusion. He wasn't born a monster, and yes, at the end of the day it was on him that he allowed himself to become one, but there's also no denying that there were a whole lot of factors working against his mental stability in the incredibly toxic way he was raised. So, for me at least, I just came out of it incredibly sad all around. Devastated for the victims and their loved ones more than anything, of course, but yes, it made me want better for Andrew too. Not for the monster he became - I'm not sure anything could have been done at that point - but for him to have been able to find happiness and peace of mind before he ever became that monster in the first place.

[@elgrigorio1]

Andrew sounded like he was the male version of Sante Kimes.