The Staircase, an eight-part crime drama starring Colin Firth as Michael Peterson, is now available to stream on ITVX. The series, which first aired on HBO and Sky Atlantic in 2022, follows the trial of Peterson for the murder of his wife Kathleen, whose body was found at the foot of the stairs in their North Carolina home.
Is The Staircase Based on a True Story?
Yes, The Staircase is rooted in the real-life 2001 case of Kathleen Peterson's death. Her husband, crime writer Michael Peterson, told police she had fallen down the stairs, but a post-mortem revealed a severe head injury, leading to charges of murder in 2003. In February 2017, Peterson entered a plea of voluntary manslaughter, maintaining innocence while accepting sufficient evidence for a conviction. Because he had already served longer than the sentence demanded, he was not required to return to custody.
Inspiration Behind the Drama
The show draws from the 2004 French documentary The Staircase, which gave filmmakers access to Peterson's legal team and relatives. The drama also features Toni Collette as Kathleen Peterson.
Critical Reception
The series has received glowing reviews. One IMDb user said: 'Finished the whole series tonight. It's an Emmy sweep. Take it to the bank.' Another described it as 'haunting, disturbing and beautiful,' while a fellow viewer called it a 'masterclass in acting.' An audience member added: 'I had to remind myself to take a breath. The emotion and acting was superb. Colin Firth was brilliant. The writers, producers did a great job. Didn't want to stop watching.'
The Staircase is available to stream on ITVX.
