We’ve long been fond of Keira Knightley – not just for her ability to dazzle us in romcoms and period dramas aplenty (think Atonement and Pride & Prejudice), but also for her penchant for championing women’s rights whenever and wherever she can.

It makes sense, then, that the actor’s foray into the true crime genre doesn’t just deal with terrifying serial killers and murder most foul. Instead, her new Disney+ project shines a light on Loretta McLaughlin, the investigative reporter who pieced together the clues that helped bring down the Boston Strangler – aka the infamous serial killer who haunted the Massachusetts capital between 1962 and 1964.

Here’s what you need to know.

What is the plot of Boston Strangler?

Between 1962 and 1964, the Boston Strangler, an American serial killer, murdered at least 11 women in the Boston area. Though the exact number of victims, as well as his identity, have proved a matter of controversy.

The Boston Strangler’s first victim, a 55-year-old woman, was sexually assaulted and strangled in her ransacked apartment in June 1962. During the following months, several other women, ranging in age from 65 to 85 years, were murdered in similar circumstances, news of which engulfed the city in panic.

Journalist Loretta McLaughlin and fellow reporter Jean Cole challenged the sexism of the early 1960s to report on the city’s most notorious serial killer and worked tirelessly to keep women informed. Much of McLaughlin and Cole’s actual research from the timeis said to have made the basis for the script, as provided by their families.

Indeed, McLaughlin pursued the story at great personal risk and uncovered corruption that cast doubt on the true identity of the Boston Strangler, which is reported to form much of the plot for the film.

Watch the trailer for Boston Strangler below:

Albert DeSalvo, of course, was eventually found guilty for the murders of 13 women – although the true death toll was believed to be much higher.

He was famously dubbed The Boston Strangler by Cole and McLaughlin during their investigation.

Who stars in Boston Strangler?

Keira Knightley and Carrie Coon lead the cast of Boston Strangler as Loretta McLaughlin and Jean Cole respectively.

Elsewhere, Dune and Suicide Squad star David Dastmalchian has also been announced in what Empire are calling a “a pivotal, undisclosed role,” perhaps of the Strangler himself.

They are joined by Alessandro Nivola, Chris Cooper, Morgan Spector, Robert John Burke, Bill Camp, and Rory Cochrane.

Who is working behind-the-scenes on Boston Strangler?

Matt Ruskin, who wrote and directed 2017’s Crown Heights, is set to pull the same double duty here, with House Of Gucci’s Ridley Scott among the executive producers. 

What are people saying about Boston Strangler?

Matt Ruskin, who wrote and directed the film, tells Collider: “Having grown up in Boston, I had always heard of the Strangler in a very abstract sense, but I didn’t really know anything about the details of the case and a few years ago, I started reading about it and discovered a really fascinating, layered serial killer story.”

He continues: “I always loved journalism stories and in researching the case, I discovered these two journalists, starting with Loretta McLaughlin, the first journalist to connect the murders, and in her reporting, she actually gave the Boston Strangler his name. It was a really monumental story for her in her career in the early 1960s. She was a very ambitious reporter in a male-dominated field and this was a real turning point for her.”

When will Boston Strangler be released?

Boston Strangler is set to hit Hulu in the US and Disney Plus in the UK on 17 March. 

In the meantime, check out these best crime dramas for your haunting dose of darkness. 

Images: Hulu/Disney+/Getty/Boston Public Library