People
Amanda Knox: How she told her daughter the truth and why she’s reclaiming the story with Hulu’s The Twisted Tale of Amanda Knox
Amanda Knox has been answering hard questions for most of her adult life. Lately, the toughest ones have come from her 4-year-old. When her daughter asked about “the time Mommy went to Italy,” Knox chose clarity over avoidance: a simple, age-appropriate version of what happened that a friend was hurt, the police believed she was responsible, she went to prison, and later proved her innocence and came home. The conversation offers a glimpse into how Knox now discusses the past, both at home and in public, including as an executive producer of Hulu’s limited series, The Twisted Tale of Amanda Knox, premiering August 20, 2025.
Why is Amanda Knox back in the spotlight now?
The eight-episode drama, starring Grace Van Patten, revisits Knox’s 2007 study abroad in Perugia, the murder of her roommate Meredith Kercher, the media frenzy, and the courtroom reversals that followed. Knox is an executive producer alongside creator K.J. Steinberg and Monica Lewinsky; the series launches on Hulu in the U.S. on Wednesday, Aug. 20.
What did she tell her child — and why now?
Amanda Knox holds daughter Eureka.
Source: Amanda Knox/Instagram
Knox has said she didn’t plan to raise the Italy story until her daughter was older, but questions came early. She chose direct, honest language a preschooler could hold: Mommy was accused, went to jail, proved she was innocent, came home, and built a life. That approach aligns with how she discusses advocacy work at home and why her family sometimes appears on the show.
What is The Twisted Tale of Amanda Knox trying to do differently?
Knox’s series is not a replay of headlines. It blends courtroom and prison drama with the quieter reality of what came after: rebuilding identity, marriage, motherhood, and public advocacy. With Knox in the producers’ room, the show centres on language, culture and perception — how a young American in a foreign system was interpreted, and misinterpreted, in ways that reshaped her life. Hulu’s official materials feature the release and creative team; recent coverage has highlighted Van Patten’s performance and the promise to reveal context that viewers may have missed.
How did Grace Van Patten approach playing Amanda Knox?
Grace Van Patten.
Source: Getty Images
To capture Knox across the years, Van Patten studied her voice, gestures, and shifting emotional register — the free, optimistic 20-year-old; the traumatised young woman under interrogation; the determined adult telling the story herself. Knox has praised how closely Van Patten tracks the details that once became tabloid fodder. PEOPLE’s recent preview positioned the performance as a fresh way into material that many think they already know.
What happened in Italy?
In 2007, 20-year-old Amanda Knox, a Seattle native studying abroad in Perugia, Italy, found herself at the center of a harrowing legal firestorm. Her British roommate, 21-year-old Meredith Kercher, was found murdered in the apartment they shared. Days later, Knox and her then-boyfriend, Italian student Raffaele Sollecito, were arrested for Kercher’s killing.
Their relationship had only lasted a week, but their names would remain interlinked for years to come. Italian prosecutors painted Knox as manipulative and sexually deviant, creating a media frenzy that leaned more on narrative than fact. In 2009, both Knox and Sollecito were convicted. Knox was sentenced to 26 years; Sollecito to 25.
What Led to Amanda Knox’s Return to the U.S.?
In September 2008, Amanda Knox is escorted to court in police custody as part of her first murder trial.
Source: Getty Images
Despite maintaining her innocence, Amanda Knox spent nearly four years behind bars in an Italian prison. In 2011, her conviction was overturned, and she flew back to the United States, finally reunited with her family. But the story didn’t end there.
In 2014, Knox and Sollecito were re-convicted, only for Italy’s highest court to overturn that conviction again in 2015, citing “stunning flaws” in the investigation and legal process. Another man, Rudy Guede, was separately convicted in 2008 for Kercher’s murder. He served 13 years of a 16-year sentence and was released in 2021.
Amanda Knox’s final acquittal brought legal closure, but public judgment lingered.
Is every case against Amanda Knox closed?
All murder charges have long been resolved in Knox’s favour.
In 2024, Italy’s highest court upheld a slander (calunnia) conviction stemming from her coerced confession implicating the bar owner and her then-boss, Patrick Lumumba, during her initial interrogation in 2007. Though she tried to retract it almost immediately, the damage had already been done — Lumumba was jailed for two weeks. After a retrial in 2024, Italy’s Court of Cassation upheld the slander conviction on January 23, 2025. Although Knox faced no additional prison time, the ruling left that conviction on the books.
Despite this blemish, Knox and her supporters continue to maintain that her confession was the result of psychological pressure and language barriers, not malice.
Why Meredith Kercher’s Memory Still Matters
Meredith Kercher.
Source: PA
While Knox’s story has dominated headlines, the tragedy at its centre, the murder of Meredith Kercher, remains the emotional heartbeat. The series includes touching flashbacks of Kercher (played by Rhianne Barreto) and Knox’s moments of friendship, reminding viewers of the life lost.
Meredith’s sister, Stephanie Kercher, expressed concern in 2024 over the mini-series, telling The Guardian that she struggled to understand its purpose. But she added, “Meredith will always be remembered for her fight for life, and yet in her absence, her love and personality continue to shine.”
Knox has said she shares that desire for Meredith’s story to be respected. “I can’t bring Meredith back,” she once said, “but I can live in a way that brings meaning to my own life.”
Why involve Monica Lewinsky — and what changed for Knox?
Amanda Knox and Monica Lewinsky.
Source: The Hollywood Reporter
Lewinsky urged Knox to tell her story with control over the framing, not just the facts. Their collaboration helped move the project from idea to series and shaped its focus on the long “after” — how someone lives when the cameras exit, and how to push back against labels that once defined them. Hulu’s announcement confirms Lewinsky’s executive role; Knox and Van Patten have both spoken publicly about that partnership.
What does Amanda Knox do today?
Knox lives in the U.S. with her husband, writer Christopher Robinson, and their two children. She writes, hosts podcasts, and appears at events advocating for innocence. In recent interviews, she’s addressed the weight of being a public symbol and the practical steps of building an everyday family life after years of scrutiny.
FAQs
When does The Twisted Tale of Amanda Knox premiere, and where can I watch it? It premieres on Wednesday, August 20, 2025, streaming on Hulu in the U.S. (Disney+ in select international markets).
Who stars as Amanda Knox, and who produced the series? Grace Van Patten plays Knox. Amanda Knox is an executive producer alongside creator K.J. Steinberg and Monica Lewinsky.
What is Amanda Knox’s current legal status? She was acquitted of murder in 2015. Italy’s highest court upheld a slander conviction related to statements made during a 2007 questioning; no additional prison time was imposed.
Who was convicted of Meredith Kercher’s murder, and where is he now? Rudy Guede was convicted and later released in 2021 after serving 13 years of a reduced sentence.
How does Knox talk about her past with her children? She uses direct, age-appropriate language and has discussed those conversations on morning shows while promoting the new series.
