Amanda Knox Playfully Reacts to Grace Van Patten Portraying Her in Hulu’s True Crime Series
Amanda Knox has lauded Grace Van Patten for her portrayal of Knox in Hulu’s upcoming dramatization regarding the murder of Meredith Kercher.
“I must say, Grace is f—ing incredible. That’s my take,” Knox, 37, shared exclusively with Us Weekly while promoting her memoir, Free: My Search for Meaning. “I find myself in a very unique position as someone whose life is being depicted. Generally, people in my situation — the subjects of a story — don’t get to have a say as executive producers.”
Knox conveyed her “gratitude” for the opportunity to narrate her experience. “Ultimately, it boils down to whether I have a voice and if it matters in the storytelling process. Hulu has recognized this and is leaning into the idea that the subject’s perspective is both valuable and significant,” she remarked. “We shouldn’t have to assume that the narrative comes from entirely objective writers who don’t infuse their own experiences into the story. I think this is a fascinating experiment happening right now.”
She added: “I’m genuinely honored to collaborate with Monica [Lewinsky], who serves as my mentor and is also an executive producer. I can’t reveal much yet since we’re still in the production phase. However, I will say that it represents another chance for me to be acknowledged for my valuable perspective.”
Details about Hulu’s untitled Amanda Knox project are sparse, but it is confirmed as an eight-episode limited series “based on the true story of how Knox was wrongfully convicted for the murder of her roommate, Meredith Kercher, and her 16-year journey to truly regain her freedom.”
Margaret Qualley was the initial choice to portray Knox, but she departed the project, leading to Grace Van Patten, 28, stepping into the role. Grace’s sister, Anna Van Patten, also joined her on set to play the part of Knox’s sister.
Knox drew significant media attention in 2007 when she was accused of murdering her roommate, Kercher, while studying abroad in Perugia, Italy. Knox received a 26-year prison sentence after she and her then-boyfriend Raffaele Sollecito were convicted, despite the lack of solid evidence against them.
Eventually, an appellate court exonerated the couple in 2011, only for them to be retried and found guilty again three years later. The Italian supreme court finally absolved Knox of Kercher’s murder in 2015, resulting in her exoneration.
Ivorian migrant Rudy Guede was sentenced to 30 years in prison in 2008 for Kercher’s murder after his DNA was found at the crime scene. His sentence was later reduced, and he was released in November 2021.
Having become a public figure against her will, Knox is reclaiming her narrative.
“Writing has always served as a form of therapy for me. I’ve been crafting this book for many years. Some parts come from writings I did long ago, focusing on processing different facets of my experience and trying to understand their significance — if they held any at all,” Knox revealed to Us. “The connections I made through this creative process have been a beautiful takeaway for me, spotlighting the relationships I built after feeling so isolated and targeted.”
Knox has leveraged her experience to advocate for criminal justice reform and the rights of the wrongfully convicted.
“This is not merely a reaction; it is a proactive journey where I confront and reflect upon the far-reaching effects of this trauma that overtook my life,” she elaborated. “[It involves] my effort to own my experiences, acknowledge my missteps along the way, and address what I view as a compelling dilemma in the realm of true crime. Namely, the notion that the individuals featured in a true crime narrative only exist within that specific context.”
Knox emphasized how those involved in high-profile true crime cases often fade from public memory, stating, “You hear about the crime, the arrests, the trials, the duration of their incarceration, and then once they are released, that’s it. They might enjoy their first hamburger after being freed, and the story seems to end there. However, you hardly get to hear about the profound journey they embark on post-exoneration, exploring the question of, ‘Now that I’ve cleared my name, what comes next in my life?’”
Free: My Search for Meaning is available now.
