HBO Max Orders The Staircase Limited Series Adaptation Starring Colin Firth

HBO Max has ordered The Staircase, an eight-episode limited series starring Academy and BAFTA Award-Winner Colin Firth (The King’s Speech, A Single Man, Kingsman: The Secret Service) as American novelist Michael Peterson. The series is written by Antonio Campos (The Devil All the Time, The Sinner) who will also direct six of the eight episodes. Adapting the true-crime docuseries The Staircase and various books and reports on the case, the series is an exploration of the life of Michael Peterson, his sprawling North Carolina family, and the suspicious death of his wife, Kathleen Peterson.

“This has been a project I have been working on in one way or another since 2008. It’s been a long and winding road, but well worth the wait to be able to find partners like HBO Max, Annapurna, co-showrunner Maggie Cohn and the incredible Colin Firth to dramatize such a complex true-life story,” Campos said.

“It is a thrill to collaborate with Antonio Campos, Maggie Cohn and Annapurna Television for the exploration of this true-life story that’s rife with dramatic revelations. With the enormously talented Colin Firth at the center of this adaptation, the story of The Staircase will continue to captivate audiences with every bizarre twist and turn,” added Sarah Aubrey, Head of Original Content, HBO Max.

Sue Naegle, Chief Content Officer, Annapurna, said: “Annapurna couldn’t be more excited to partner with HBO Max, Antonio Campos, Maggie Cohn and Colin Firth on this unbelievable true-life saga. We were enthralled by the docuseries and know that this story will be just as fascinating as a limited series in the hands of Antonio and Maggie, with Colin at the center.”

The Staircase is executive produced by showrunners Antonio Campos and Maggie Cohn. The Max Original is a co-production between HBO Max and Annapurna Television.

(Photo by David M. Benett/Dave Benett/WireImage via Getty Images)