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Chiswick's Oscar-winning star, Colin Firth is believed to be considering playing the lead role in a British-made movie about the controversial court case which saw Amanda Knox walk free after four years in jail for the murder of Meredith Kercher.

Plans to make the film, which would be directed by Michael Winterbottom ( The Road to Sarajevo ) and star Firth as an investigative journalist, could be stepped up following the sensational acquittal on appeal of Seattle-born Knox(24) ,who shared a cottage with Kircher in Perugia, an area well-known to Firth. He has a villa at nearby Citta della Pieve which he frequently visits with his Italian wife Livia and their two children.

Since the release of Amanda Knox, who flew into Heathrow on Tuesday en route home to Seattle, worldwide media offers for interviews, books and films have been pouring in, according to her agent.

But the British film, which would be co-written by Firth, has been in the pipeline for over a year. Michael Winterbottom has already visited the Perugia cottage rented by Kercher and Knox where the murder of the British student took place in 2007. He also spent time scouting in other Italian locations and spent time talking to journalists outside the court. He is also understood to have held extensive discussions with Firth about taking the role.

Knox and her ex-boyfriend Raffaele Sollicito, who had served four years of a 26-year sentence for the murder of Meredith Kercher, walked free earlier this week when the sentences were quashed on appeal. Rudy Guede, described as a local drifter, is still serving a 16-year sentence for his part in the crime.

Michael Winterbottom has said the film would not focus on Amanda Knox but on the role of journalism in the case and how speculation in the media might or might not have influenced the outcome.

" The idea would be that ultimately there isn't an answer, it's all a puzzle...but we will be asking ' Is this system of justice fair?'." he said last year. His films ' A Mighty Heart' and ' The Road to Sarajevo' have also focused on journalists at the heart of covering big international stories.

 

 

October 5th, 2011