Colin Firth is tackling a character far removed from the British gentlemen he’s played throughout much of his career in HBO Max’s The Staircase, premiering in the Spring.
The eight-episode limited series—based on a true story— sees Firth portray Michael Peterson, who was convicted of killing his wife Kathleen (portrayed by Toni Collette) on December 9, 2001, though he claimed a fall down the stairs at their home caused her death. The charge was later reduced to manslaughter after it was discovered a key witness for the prosecution gave misleading testimony.
Although Peterson was released in 2017 and is still alive, Firth did not connect with him for the limited series.
“I didn’t communicate with Michael Peterson,” Firth told Deadline during The Staircase‘s Ctam presentation on Tuesday. “I felt the way the script was structured and just the whole approach of this was its own ecosystem, so to speak.
The eight-episode limited series—based on a true story— sees Firth portray Michael Peterson, who was convicted of killing his wife Kathleen (portrayed by Toni Collette) on December 9, 2001, though he claimed a fall down the stairs at their home caused her death. The charge was later reduced to manslaughter after it was discovered a key witness for the prosecution gave misleading testimony.
Although Peterson was released in 2017 and is still alive, Firth did not connect with him for the limited series.
“I didn’t communicate with Michael Peterson,” Firth told Deadline during The Staircase‘s Ctam presentation on Tuesday. “I felt the way the script was structured and just the whole approach of this was its own ecosystem, so to speak.
- 2/15/2022
- by Rosy Cordero
- Deadline Film + TV
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