• Home
  • News
  • Entertainment
  • LAD Originals

U OK M8?
Free To Be
Extinct
Citizen Reef

To make sure you never miss out on your favourite NEW stories, we're happy to send you some reminders

Click 'OK' then 'Allow' to enable notifications

Not now
OK
Advert
Advert
Advert

One Of The Most Popular True Crime Docuseries Has Been Turned Into A Drama By Sky

Anish Vij

Published 
| Last updated 

One Of The Most Popular True Crime Docuseries Has Been Turned Into A Drama By Sky

One of the most popular true crime docuseries has been turned into a drama by Sky. Watch the trailer below:

Loading…

The Staircase will star BAFTA and Academy Award winner Colin Firth and is based on a real crime doc, which was shown on Netflix in 2018.

*WARNING - SPOILERS AHEAD*

Advert

The official synopsis for Sky's new eight episode limited series reads: "Based on a true story, The Staircase explores the life of Michael Peterson, his sprawling North Carolina family and the suspicious death of his wife, Kathleen Peterson."

Firth will play Michael Peterson, while Toni Collette (Knives Out, Muriel’s Wedding) will star as Kathleen Peterson.

Credit: Sky
Credit: Sky

Well, the original doc centres on the 2001 death of Kathleen Peterson, who was found at the bottom of the stairs by her husband Michael.

Advert

He claimed his wife had fallen down the stairs and died of her injuries, however, the authorities charged him with murder, alleging that he had bludgeoned Kathleen to death and attempted to cover it up by making it look like an accident.

Credit: Sky
Credit: Sky
The real Michael Peterson in court. Credit: Alamy
The real Michael Peterson in court. Credit: Alamy

An an autopsy report found that Kathleen suffered a fracture of the thyroid neck cartilage and seven lacerations to the top and back of her head, consistent with blows from a light, yet rigid object.

Advert

At court details of the couple's life would be laid bare, including the fact that Peterson had attempted to hire a male escort.

Credit: Sky
Credit: Sky

The plot thickens when during the trial, it's revealed that while Peterson was living in Germany, Elizabeth Ratliff, a female friend of his, died after collapsing and falling down the stairs, suffering similar injuries to Kathleen. Peterson was reported to be the last person to see her alive.

Peterson would go on to adopt the Elizabeth's daughters and raise them as his own - both of the daughters, who were adults at the time of Kathleen's death, supported Peterson throughout the trial.

Advert
Credit: Sky
Credit: Sky

However, Kathleen's sisters were dead-set that their brother-in-law was a cold blooded killer.

Starring alongside Firth and Collette are Michael Stuhlbarg (Your Honor), Juliette Binoche (Chocolat), Dane DeHaan (ZeroZeroZero) and Olivia DeJonge (Elvis).

There's also Rosemarie DeWitt (Little Fires Everywhere), Tim Guinee (Inventing Anna), Patrick Schwarzenegger (Moxie), Sophie Turner (Game of Thrones), Vincent Vermignon (Romy and Michele's High School Reunion), Odessa Young (Shirley) and Parker Posey (Lost in Space).

Advert

The Staircase will be available to watch on Sky Atlantic and NOW from 5 May

Featured Image Credit: Sky

Topics: TV and Film

Anish Vij
More like this
Advert
Advert
Advert

Chosen for YouChosen for You

News

Violence erupts in Prague as West Ham fans are attacked 'with fireworks and weapons'

6 minutes ago

Most Read StoriesMost Read

Man unwraps his bananas before weighing them to save money

14 hours ago