The Staircase has arrived.Like the documentary that inspired it, The Staircase tells the true-life story of Michael Peterson (played here by Colin Firth), a successful, affluent author married to his beautiful love, Kathleen (Toni Collette).
One night in 2001, Peterson phoned police after discovering Kathleen dead in a pool of blood at the bottom of the staircase in their home.
He claimed Kathleen had fallen victim to a terrible accident, but when police learned of his bisexuality, prosecutors accused him of murdering her to cover up his liaisons with men.
With a cause célèbre brewing, a documentary crew approached Peterson to film his case. Thus began a saga spanning more than 15 years that would raise questions about the couple’s marriage, the legal system’s treatment of LGBTQ people, and the role the media plays in altering the course of a trial.This new, eight-episode series debuts on HBO Max on April 5.