Featured Image Credit: Sky
Topics: TV and Film
Anish Vij
One of the most popular true crime docuseries has been turned into a drama by Sky. Watch the trailer below:
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*
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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.
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.
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.
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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.
At court details of the couple's life would be laid bare, including the fact that Peterson had attempted to hire a male escort.
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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.
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).
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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).
The Staircase will be available to watch on Sky Atlantic and NOW from 5 May