Hayden Panettiere As Amanda Knox On Set Of Lifetime Biopic

Filming on the Lifetime Original Movie The Amanda Knox Story got underway on Monday, despite protests from the family and legal team of the baby-faced convicted killer on which the film is based.

Amanda Knox is the 23-year-old American serving 26 years for the murder of British student Meredith Kercher. Knox, her Italian boyfriend Raffaele Sollecito, and an African-born drifter Rudi Guede were convicted last year in the violent stabbing death of Meredith Kercher, 21, back in 2007. Knox slashed her friend’s throat with a knife during a violent night fueled by sex and drugs, prosecutors argue.

All three accused killers have maintained their innoncence, and lawyers for Knox say a sensational made-for-TV movie about the case could hamper the Washington native’s chances for a successful appeal. They’ve also refused to allow Heroes alum Hayden Panettiere — who will be playing Knox — in the film access to the client.

“I wish [I could meet her],” says the 21-year-old actress. “I know the Italian government is being pretty protective of her, her lawyers are being protective of her, which is pretty understandable. It’s something I would like to do [meet her], but I’d be more surprised if it happened than if it didn’t.”

The Amanda Knox Story – featuring Paolo Romio as Sollettico and Djibril Kebe as Guede — will air in 2011.