While not as compelling as some of Netflix’s previously released true crime docs, “The Staircase” documents the 16-year legal battle of Michael Peterson, a crime novelist accused of killing his wife Kathleen after she was found dead at the bottom of a staircase in their home.
There are many theories about what happened to Kathleen Peterson on Dec. 9, 2001, yet HBO Max will attempt to tell their Hollywoodized version in a limited series.
Rosemarie DeWitt who you may remember from the 2015 remake of Poltergeist, is set to star alongside the previously announced Hereditary‘s Toni Collette and Colin Firth in HBO Max’s drama limited series adaptation based on the true-crime docuseries, reports Deadline.
The eight-episode series from Antonio Campos, who directed the excellent Rebecca Hall-fronted feature Christine, and “American Crime Story” writer Maggie Cohn, explores the life of Michael Peterson (played by Firth), his sprawling North Carolina family and the suspicious death of his wife, Kathleen (Collette), adds the site who notes that DeWitt will play Candace Zamperini, Kathleen Peterson’s sister.
“The series is based on the docuseries and various books and reports on the case. Michael Peterson was convicted of murdering Kathleen in 2001, a charge that was reduced to manslaughter in 2017, and Peterson subsequently was released from prison. He had claimed his wife died after falling down the stairs at their home after consuming alcohol and Valium, but an autopsy concluded she died from multiple injuries, including blows to the back of her head with a blunt object.”
