Attention, true crime fans: The next eerie adaptation is coming in hot, and this time, Toni Collette, Colin Firth, and, well… a staircase are bringing it to life.
Thanks to HBO’s upcoming series, The Staircase, one of the most notorious crime cases in history will be reenacted outside of the traditional documentary format.
Written and executive produced by Antonio Campos and Maggie Cohn, the drama series will follow the ever-so-popular investigation of Michael Peterson, a man who was accused of murdering his wife, Kathleen, in their North Carolina home.
Calling the police, he claimed that his wife had accidentally fallen down the stairs in their house, however, there was more to the story than met the eye—but more on that later.
Now, the first official trailer has finally been released, with the creepy plot (and impressive acting) seen in all its glory. We won’t lie, seeing Colin Firth play a killer feels like new territory—yet somehow, he pulls it off seamlessly.
Has the trailer (which you can watch in the player above) intrigued you? Keep reading for everything you need to know about HBO’s The Staircase—from the plot and cast members to when you can watch it in Australia.
What Is The Plot Of The Staircase?
Based on a true story, the long-awaited series follows the story of Michael Peterson, an American novelist who was convicted of murdering his wife, Kathleen, in their North Carolina home.
In December 2001, Peterson called police to claim that Kathleen had fallen down the stairs in their house, a version of events that authorities did not believe. Instead, they drew the conclusion that Peterson actually bludgeoned his wife to death with a blow poke. What followed was an investigation that saw him convicted in court in 2003.
While the account of events seems relatively straightforward, the story is anything but. Jam-packed with twists, turns, small-town bigotry and a suspiciously similar death in Germany, the true story is far from dull. True crime fans may recall previous on-screen adaptations of the case, in particular Netflix’s 2018 documentary that taught viewers more about hard-hitting facts—and an obscure owl theory—compared to this adaptation.
Who Is Cast In The Staircase?
As per every streaming service must-watch, HBO’s The Staircase is set to boast an impressive line up of famous faces. Leading the cast is Australia’s own Toni Collette (Hereditary, Muriel’s Wedding and most recently, Pieces Of Her) as Kathleen, as well as Colin Firth (Love Actually) as Michael Peterson, as per Deadline. To add,
Joining the Hollywood powerhouses are Olivia DeJonge, Patrick Schwarzenegger and Sophie Turner, among others—essentially cementing the fact this is going to be one hell of a show.
Turner’s profile and role has unsurprisingly intrigued fans. She’s set to play Margaret Ratliff, one of Peterson’s adopted daughters.
The pregnant Game Of Thrones star’s recent stints onscreen have included her role as Jean Grey in X-Men: Apocalypse and X-Men: Dark Phoenix, as well as her role in Quibi’s Survive, which debuted in 2021.
The Staircase is Turner’s first acting role since the birth of her daughter, Willa, with husband Joe Jonas in July 2020.
When Can We Watch The Staircase?
The Staircase will be released on Thursday, May 5 on BINGE.
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