Amanda Knox drama: Hulu limited series is based on the controversial true story of Meredith Kercher's murder

By Helen Fear | Mon Nov 04 2024

Amanda Knox and her wrongful conviction for the murder of Meredith Kercher is the subject of a new TV series commissioned by Hulu.

The true story of Meredith's murder in 2007, and the subsequent police investigation, remains one of the most controversial crimes in living memory.

And now, Amanda's 16-year fight for freedom is being dramatised in a TV series, with actress Grace Van Patten playing the titular role.

The series, currently with the working title Amanda, is currently in production. Here's everything you need to know about the Amanda Knox TV drama, based on the shocking true story.

Amanda Knox pictured in 2010 after winning her appeal against a 2009 verdict that found her guilty of murdering her 21-year-old roommate Meredith Kercher (Credit: INFevents.com)

Amanda Knox TV drama - what is it about?

Hulu has commissioned a TV drama based on the disturbing true story of murdered Meredith Kercher, and Amanda Knox, the flatmate who was wrongfully convicted of killing her.

Amanda and Meredith were both exchange students sharing an apartment in Perugia, Italy. In 2007, a 20-year-old Amanda returned home after spending the night with her boyfriend Raffaele Sollecito. She called police when she discovered Meredith's bedroom door locked and blood in the bathroom. Tragically, Meredith was found dead after being murdered in her own home.

After the investigation, police arrested Amanda Knox for the murder. In 2009, a jury convicted her of murdering her roommate, Meredith Kercher. Amanda subsequently spent four years in jail fighting to prove her innocence.

She was eventually acquitted in 2011, and released from jail. The Hulu drama will tell Amanda's story.

The synopsis reads: "Centres on Amanda Knox's harrowing journey after being wrongfully imprisoned for her roommate's murder, her battle to prove her innocence and regain her freedom."

How can I watch Amanda Knox drama on Hulu? How many episodes is it?

Amanda is an eight-episode limited series. Each episode is expected to be around an hour long.

The dramatisation will air on Hulu (a US-based streaming service). Many movies and shows hosted on Hulu are broadcast to international audiences via Star on Disney Plus.

We can expect the Amanda Knox drama to come with a Disney+ subscription in the UK.

Grace Van Patten will star as Amanda Knox in the new drama based on her wrongful conviction (Credit: Faye's Vision/Cover Images)

Who is in the cast of Amanda Knox drama?

Actress Grace Van Patten stars as Amanda Knox in the upcoming Hulu drama. New York-born Grace is known for playing Lucy Albright in Tell Me Lies, and Zoe Marconi in Nine Perfect Strangers.

Andie MacDowell's daughter Margaret Qualley - star of The Substance - was originally cast in the role of Amanda Knox. However, she left the project due to scheduling conflicts.

Irish actress Sharon Horgan will play Edda Mellas, Amanda's mum. Sharon's known for writing and starring in Catastrophe, Bad Sisters, and Pulling.

Giuseppe De Domenico will portray Amanda's Italian boyfriend Raffaele Sollecito. The Sicily-born actor is known for #Goldfish, and ZeroZeroZero.

Meanwhile, Rome-born actor Francesco Acquaroli plays Italian magistrate Giuliano Mignini.

Dopesick's John Hoogenakker also stars in an undisclosed role, and Roberta Mattei plays Monica Napoleoni, the head of the homicide division in Perugia.

Where is Amanda Knox now?

American Amanda Knox is currently 37, and an author, activist, and journalist.

Her memoir, Waiting to be Heard, became a best seller in 2013. She has subsequently written the book, Free: My Search for Meaning.

In 2018, she began hosting The Scarlet Letter Reports, a television series examining the "gendered nature of public shaming".

She is married, with two kids.

Amanda acts as executive producers on the new Hulu drama, alongside Monica Lewinsky, Warren Littlefield, Lisa Harrison, Ann Johnson, and Graham Littlefield.

Amanda Knox in 2024 appearing as a guest on Italian TV show Five minutes (Credit: Marco Provvisionato/IPA/INSTARimages)

What is the true story behind the Meredith Kercher murder?

Meredith Kercher was murdered on November 01, 2007. The British student, who was on exchange from the University of Leeds, was just 21 when she was killed in her Perugia apartment in Italy.

She was found dead on the floor of her room. Her body was found in her bedroom, partly undressed with multiple stab wounds. She had also been sexually assaulted.

In 2009, American suspect Amanda Knox and her Italian former boyfriend, Raffaele Sollecito, were convicted of Meredith's murder. A judge sentenced them to 26 and 25 years in prison.

Knox and Sollecito spent four years in prison after initially being convicted of Kercher’s murder.

They were acquitted in 2011 before being convicted again in 2014 by an appeals court in Florence, which ruled that the multiple injuries inflicted on Kercher's body proved that Rudy Guede could not have acted alone. 

Italy's highest court overturned the decision in a definitive ruling in 2015. It detailed the "stunning flaws" in the investigation that led to the convictions of Knox and Sollecito.

Who killed Meredith Kercher?

Rudy Guede was later convicted of the murder of the British student Meredith Kercher.

A known burglar, Rudy's bloody fingerprints were found on Meredith's possessions. He was convicted of murder in a fast-track trial and was sentenced to 30 years' imprisonment, later reduced to 16 years.

In December 2020, an Italian court ruled that Guede could complete his term by doing community service. He was freed from prison after completing 13 years of a 16-year sentence.

Rudy Guede always denied murdering Meredith Kercher, even though his DNA was found on her body and in her bedroom.

Sharon Horgan plays Amanda Knox's mum Edda Mellas in the Hulu drama (Credit: CoverImages)

Why was the Meredith Kercher murder so controversial?

Meredith Kercher's tragic murder, and the subsequently wrongful conviction of Amanda Knox and her boyfriend was THE news story at the time. Amanda Knox's face was on the front cover of every newspaper and magazine.

In what has been described as a trial by media, Amanda and her boyfriend's actions and reactions were scrutinised - and found by many to be lacking. Amanda was not displaying the required level of sadness at the death of her flatmate.

Totally overshadowing Meredith's murder, Amanda Knox's was described as Foxy Knoxy by some press. She was labelled a party girl, and called a "she-devil" by prosecutors.

Knox's "inappropriate" behaviour after the murder was noted by police officers and others in the murder trial. A senior police officer told the court in Perugia that both Knox and Sollecito had a "strange attitude" when they were brought to the police station for questioning.

Amanda Knox was seen turning cartwheels in the police station, the court heard. On one occasion, Knox sat on Sollecito's lap while they were questioned.

Amanda continues to be criticised to this day. She is now being accused of "profiting from murder" with the new TV series about her. The family of the murdered Meredith Kercher say it is "difficult to understand" how the show "serves any purpose".

Amanda Knox has been the subject of multiple TV and film projects, including a 2011 Lifetime movie, and a 2016 Netflix documentary.

Amanda: A Coming of Age Horror will air on Hulu and Disney+ in 2025.

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