Los Angeles: Singer Lady Gaga will be playing fashion designer Donatella Versace in the upcoming third season of "American Crime Story".

The ten-episode instalment of the drama focuses on the murder of designer Gianni Versace at his Miami Beach home by serial killer Andrew Cunanan in July 1997. 

A source confirmed the news of casting to usmagazine.com. 

"Versace/Cunanan: American Crime Story" will air after the second season of the anthology, set to focus on Hurricane Katrina. Both seasons will begin filming in early 2017.

"American Crime Story" is executive produced by Ryan Murphy, for whom Gaga's given a Golden Globe-winning performance on "American Horror Story: Hotel". She is also featured on the current series of that programme, which is subtitled "Roanoke".

Murphy hinted at the casting during a panel in late October. 

When the panel moderator suggested that Gaga would be "the perfect Donatella", Murphy said: "Ya think?" with a grin. 

The second season of the show will air in India soon on Star World Premiere HD.