'The Staircase': 5 things you need to know about the HBO miniseries
Toni Collette and Colin Firth star in the limited series 'The Staircase,' which is based on the case of Michael Peterson. The death of Peterson's wife Kathleen in 2001 sparked headlines and a documentary, also titled 'The Staircase,' was released back then. However, the upcoming series will be retold as a narrative.
'The Staircase' follows a long list of true-crime and scammer-themed shows that have recently premiered on television, including 'Somos,' 'Catching Killers,' 'Landscapers,' and others. This may be one of the most star-studded true-crime shows we've seen in a long time, featuring an Emmy winner, an Oscar winner, a Game of Thrones vet, and more.
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When will 'The Staircase' release and where to watch it?
'The Staircase' will premiere on HBO Max on Thursday, May 5, in the United States and other countries where the streaming service is available. Starting May 5, UK audiences may watch 'The Staircase' on the NOW streaming service and Sky TV. According to HBO Max, the first three episodes of 'The Staircase' will be available on the streaming service on May 5, followed by one episode every week until June 9.
What is 'The Staircase' all about?
'The Staircase,' based on a true story, delves into the life of Michael Peterson, his picturesque North Carolina family, and the mysterious death of his partner, Kathleen Peterson. Kathleen Peterson was discovered dead in a puddle of blood at the bottom of the stairway in the family's Durham, N.C. mansion in December 2001. Michael Peterson was then named as the primary suspect in her passing. In 2003, Peterson was convicted and sentenced to life after a three-month trial. That, nevertheless, was not the entire story.
The case remained in the public eye with big props to a documentary made by a French production crew and Peterson retaining his innocence through numerous appeals, and assumptions about how Kathleen Peterson died came to the fore. When it was disclosed that a crucial witness for the prosecution had made false statements, a new trial was ordered. After serving 89 months in prison, Michael Peterson was able to walk free in 2017 after approaching a plea deal that permitted him to preserve his innocence while acknowledging that the prosecutors had enough evidence to convict him, with the formal verdict attributing him as guilty.
That sure sounds like it will provide viewers with a lot of subplots as they try to figure out what happened to Kathleen Peterson.
Who stars in the Max crime-thriller?
Toni Collette as Kathleen Peterson and Colin Firth as Michael Peterson lead a remarkable ensemble cast in 'The Staircase.'
Colin Firth
Colin Firth won an Oscar for his performance in 'The King's Speech,' but the British star is known for a variety of roles in rom-coms, dramas, action films, and even musicals. 'Operation Mincemeat,' his most recent is a war drama.
Parker Posey, Rosemarie DeWitt, Juliette Binoche, Dane DeHaan, Sophie Turner, Michael Stuhlbarg, and others lead an impressive supporting cast.
Who are the showrunners?
Maggie Cohn and Antonio Campos, who wrote the story, are also executive producers for the HBO MAX miniseries adaptation, which will premiere in early May.
Trailer
Check out the official trailer of 'The Staircase' below:
