HBO has one of the most anticipated series of the year coming up in The Staircase, and for good reason. For one thing, it’s based on the incredible true story of Michael Peterson and the suspcious death of his wife Kathleen, who he reported to have fallen down a flight of stairs. The investigation saw many wild theories thrown against the wall, including the infamous “owl theory“, and found its way into the national spotlight due to a Netflix documentary special.
But if you needed more reason to watch, the series will star Colin Firth as Michael Peterson and Toni Collette as Kathleen. Behind the camera is acclaimed filmmaker Antonio Campos, known for crafting thrillers such as Afterschool, Christine, and The Devil All the Time.
The rest of the cast is extraordinary, too, and includes Michael Stuhlbarg, Juliette Binoche, Dane DeHaan, Olivia DeJonge, Rosemarie DeWitt, Tim Guinee, Patrick Schwarzenegger, Sophie Turner, Vincent Vermignon, Odessa Young, and Parker Posey. Damn.
HBO and HBO Max will premiere The Staircase on May 5th.
Based on a true story, THE STAIRCASE explores the life of Michael Peterson (Firth), his sprawling North Carolina family, and the suspicious death of his wife, Kathleen Peterson (Collette).
