18 years after the release of Jean-Xavier de Lestrade’s docuseries “The Staircase,” the story of Kathleen Peterson’s death is being turned into a scripted series on HBO Max. In March 2021, Variety reported that HBO Max was adapting the case for an eight-part limited drama, also titled “The Staircase.” Emmy-winning actor Toni Collette is portraying Kathleen, and Oscar-winning actor Colin Firth is taking on the role of Michael Peterson, Kathleen’s husband who was convicted of her murder in 2003.
The show’s cast also includes Sophie Turner, Michael Stuhlbarg, Juliette Binoche, Dane DeHaan, Olivia DeJonge, Rosemarie DeWitt, Tim Guinee, Patrick Schwarzenegger, Vincent Vermignon, Odessa Young, and Parker Posey. Antonio Campos’s “The Staircase” will explore the life of the Peterson family in North Carolina, the circumstances surrounding Kathleen’s suspicious death, and Michael’s involvement.
While it’s unclear how much of the infamous case the HBO Max series will cover, its teaser trailer, which arrived on March 29, hints that it may shed light on the tragic events from the Peterson family’s perspective. Campos and “American Crime Story” writer Maggie Cohn both serve as co-showrunners and executive producers for the series.
Before “The Staircase” premieres on May 5, here’s what you need to know about the strange true story behind Kathleen’s death.
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