Scott Turow, author of the 1987 novel Presumed Innocent, explains why season 2 of the David E. Kelley and JJ Abrams-produced series won’t adapt his new novel. Set for release this month, Presumed Guilty revisits the character of Rusty Sabich, who finds himself on the other side of the courtroom when he must defend his fiancé’s son from a murder charge. The new novel takes place 35 years after the events in Presumed Innocent and is the third book overall in the series. Meanwhile, Presumed Innocent season 2 is in development at Apple TV+.
Turow explains why neither of his sequels will serve as source material for the second season in an interview with The Wrap. The author points out that the time jump would be difficult, and one star who would be crucial to an Innocent adaptation isn’t interested. The real challenge with adapting his new book is “whether you can really have a second or even maybe a third act” that would do better than season 1. Check out what he says below:
‘Innocent’ is set 20 years later, so it would be hard to do it as a follow on to the prior series. Also, Peter Sarsgaard said from the beginning, ‘I’m not doing sequels.‘ And as it happens, his character, Tommy Molto, was at the center of the story in ‘Innocent,” so there were a lot of reasons that didn’t happen.
Talking about his new legal thriller, Presumed Guilty, the author teases Rusty’s return by saying:
He’s sort of come back to life.
There’s a lot that counts against Aaron [his fiancé’s son], and it starts with what all criminal defendants have in common, which is that judges can tell juries whatever they want about a presumption of innocence, but the reality is, everybody knows how our system works. Most people who are accused are guilty, and so jurors come into a courtroom, in that mindset that this guy probably did it. He’s [Rusty] kind of the choice by default, even though I think most people would say representing a soon-to-be family member is a terrible idea. But the law talks about a rule of necessity in some cases where the ordinary rules get set aside. Because there’s no way out of this. And this is a rule of necessity situation.
Turow also shares that he’s not worried about season 2 going in its own direction, having been taking a hands-off approach to executive producing:
I’ve been very well served by both adaptations of ‘Presumed Innocent’ and frankly, by all the other films that have been made from my work. There’s nothing that I’ve sat there and just closed my eyes and gritted my teeth about.
What This Means For Presumed Innocent Season 2
Presumed Innocent Season 2 Has A Different Source Material
While the new season won’t be based on Presumed Guilty, it seems the creative team has a better plan for the future of Apple TV+’s hit legal thriller series. In the same interview, Turow also confirmed that Jo Murray’s forthcoming debut novel Dissection of a Murder would serve as the main inspiration for the new season. The legal thriller novel is set for spring 2026 publication, in which it follows Leila Reynolds as she defends her first murder case against her husband, who’s the prosecutor.
The latest adaptation of Presumed Innocent was renewed in July 2024, with season 1’s star Jake Gyllenhaal returning as executive producer along with Turow, Kelly, and Abrams. At the time of the renewal announcement, it was revealed that season 2 would focus on a brand-new case. With the series not adapting Turow’s new book, it isn’t quite clear if the same characters will return, but the possibility is there. The confirmation of the season 2 plot’s inspiration could suggest the show will turn its focus to one of Rusty’s (Gyllenhaal) colleagues.
Our Take On Presumed Innocent Season 2
There Will Likely Be Elements From Turow’s Book Series
It’s a good thing that the Presumed Innocent series isn’t going to follow Presumed Guilty. While the book works as a sequel to Turow’s original novel, it doesn’t really make much sense in the grand picture of a limited-turned-ongoing series. Barbara has become a central focus in the Apple TV+ series, and Presumed Guilty‘s plot will have Rusty soon marry a new wife, Bea. There are gaps to be filled between the two novels, and it looks like the Apple TV+ show has made the right call by finding new material to work with.
On the other hand, with Presumed Guilty involving a Rusty case, it’s also likely that the book might serve as the source material for a later season. The idea of the second book, Innocent, which revolves around Rusty and Tommy going head-to-head in a murder trial, could be cleverly incorporated into Presumed Innocent season 2 in a way that would bypass Sarsgaard’s unavailability. It’s very likely the show will incorporate material or ideas from Turow’s new book into the upcoming season as well.
Source: The Wrap
An eight-episode limited series based on the New York Times bestselling novel of the same name by Scott Turow. Starring Gyllenhaal in the lead role of chief deputy prosecutor Rusty Sabich, the series takes viewers on a gripping journey through the horrific murder that upends the Chicago Prosecuting Attorney’s office when one of its own is suspected of the crime. The series explores obsession, sex, politics, and the power and limits of love, as the accused fights to hold his family and marriage together.
- Release Date
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June 12, 2024
- Cast
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Jake Gyllenhaal
, Ruth Negga
, Bill Camp
, Elizabeth Marvel
, Renate Reinsve
, Peter Sarsgaard
, O-T Fagbenle
, Chase Infiniti
, Lily Rabe
, Nana Mensah
, Matthew Alan
, Kingston Rumi Southwick