Poor Things star playing Amanda Knox in Hulu series divides fans

A star from the Oscar-nominated movie Poor Things has landed a new gig playing Amanda Knox in an upcoming Hulu limited series – and the news has left fans divided. 

When done right, true crime dramatizations can be an effective, gripping way to delve into a case with a fresh perspective. Take Monster: The Jeffrey Dahmer Story, for example, Netflix’s drama on one of America’s worst serial killers in modern history. As well as shining a light on Dahmer’s crimes, it placed police and societal discrimination under the spotlight. 

Other recent entries to this growing subgenre are Love & Death, about the true story of Candy Montgomery, Dr. Death Season 2, delving into conman and former surgeon Paolo Macchiarini, and The Act, centering on the Gypsy Rose case. 

Now, Hulu is working on a new dramatization about Amanda Knox, the former US student who spent four years in an Italian prison following a wrongful conviction for the 2007 murder of her housemate, Meredith Kercher. Knox has now been cast, and it’s divided opinion. 

Poor Things star playing Amanda Knox in Hulu series divides fans

Poor Things and Maid star Margaret Qualley is set to play Amanda Knox in a currently untitled Hulu series about the world-famous case. While some think Qualley is “perfect” for the role, others are apprehensive. 

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Among those who fall into the latter camp, one wrote on X: “Casting Margaret Qualley as Amanda Knox in the Hulu limited series risks oversimplifying a complex real-life story and may undermine the need for nuanced portrayals and empathy towards all involved parties.”

Another simply said “shame” in response to the news, while a third added, “Qualley’s glam look can certainly draw in the crowds, but will the true grit of Amanda Knox’s story be overshadowed by Hollywood’s thirst for beauty?”

However, the majority are full of praise for the casting choice, with one writing, “She is perfect for this series.” Another said, “Margaret Qualley is a talented actress, and it will be intriguing to see her portrayal of Amanda Knox,” and a third added, “Love to see her in this series.”

Others have shared their hopes for the show, noting that Kercher often gets forgotten in discussions about the case. “I hate how Meredith Kercher always gets lost in these projects. Everyone glosses over her like a footnote,” wrote one Redditor. “I hope this story humanizes her and focuses on her somewhat too.”

According to Hulu, Knox and Monica Lewinsky are among the group of executive producers of the eight-episode series, which is “based on the true story of how Knox was wrongfully convicted for the murder of her roommate Meredith Kercher and her 16-year odyssey to set herself free.”

The currently untitled series is being helmed by Gossip Girl and This is Us producer K.J. Steinberg. As it’s still in development, there’s no release date at the time of writing. But when it does drop, it’ll be available on Hulu, which you can sign up for here. 

For now, you can dive into all the new movies and all the new TV shows hitting streaming this month if you need something fresh to watch.

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