Denise Alvarado

The Staircase is an American television miniseries that dramatizes the true crime story of author Michael Peterson, who was accused of murdering his wife, Kathleen. The series, which premiered on HBO Max in 2022, follows the unfolding legal battle and the intense scrutiny that followed Kathleen's death at the bottom of their home's staircase.

Created by Antonio Campos, the show is based on a 2004 French documentary series of the same name. It explores the complexities of the case, the impact on the Peterson family, and the involvement of a French documentary crew. The cast features Colin Firth as Michael Peterson and Toni Collette as Kathleen Peterson, with a supporting ensemble portraying family members, legal teams, and the documentary filmmakers. The series garnered critical attention, particularly for Firth's performance, though members of the original documentary team and individuals involved in the case raised concerns about its factual accuracy and portrayal of events.

The miniseries centers on Michael Peterson, a crime novelist, who faces accusations of killing his wife after she is discovered deceased at the foot of a staircase within their residence. As the investigation progresses, the family becomes entangled in a difficult legal struggle. Concurrently, a French documentary team begins to investigate and film the unfolding events, adding another layer to the narrative. The series delves into the lives of the main characters, including Michael Peterson, a writer and political figure whose financial and personal circumstances become central to the investigation and the documentary's focus. Kathleen Peterson, his wife, is depicted as a successful executive well-regarded in her community.

Antonio Campos developed "The Staircase" as a scripted adaptation of the 2004 French docuseries, a project he had been working on since 2008. Annapurna Television officially brought the project into development in late 2019, and HBO Max later picked it up for development, eventually ordering an 8-episode limited series. Campos served as showrunner and directed several episodes, with Maggie Cohn joining as co-showrunner, writer, and executive producer. Colin Firth was cast in the lead role of Michael Peterson, replacing Harrison Ford, who was initially attached. The production involved principal photography in Atlanta, Georgia, beginning in June 2021 and concluding in December of that year. The series aimed to bring a fresh perspective to the well-documented true-crime story.

Upon its release, "The Staircase" received generally favorable reviews from critics, with Colin Firth's portrayal of Michael Peterson earning particular praise. Review aggregators noted its fresh perspective on the familiar case. However, the series also faced criticism from individuals connected to the original documentary and the Peterson case itself. Members of the French documentary team expressed feeling betrayed, citing misrepresentations, particularly regarding the relationship between editor Sophie Brunet and Michael Peterson, and questioning editorial choices. Defense attorney David Rudolf also voiced concerns about inaccuracies and misleading information presented in the drama. Michael Peterson himself stated he was unaware of the series' production and accused the original documentarian of selling his story.