Courtroom thrillers about prosecutors landing in legal hot water are clearly a popular commodity over at Apple TV+. This trend is further fueled by their latest offering, Presumed Innocent, where Jake Gyllenhaal takes on the role of a perma-stressed chief deputy prosecutor
, Rusty Sabich.
The series is based on Scott Turow’s 1987 novel and adheres to a familiar, yet captivating formula. It follows Rusty Sabich as he becomes the chief suspect in the murder of his colleague Carolyn Polhemus (Renate Reinsve). Adding complexity, Rusty had an affair with Carolyn, creating an unreliable narrator trope that Gyllenhaal embodies with intensity.
Gyllenhaal looks guilty as hell in the official teaser trailer
, igniting curiosity about whether his character is proving his innocence or hiding guilt. The trailer shows flashes of tension and romantic entanglements, leading viewers to question Sabich’s motives.
Ruth Negga Steals the Show
Joining Gyllenhaal is Ruth Negga (Preacher) as Rusty’s wife Barbara. Negga’s performance as Barbara, who is struggling to keep her family together amidst chaos, has been widely praised. Barbara is a challenging character, but Negga knocks it out of the park
.
The Star-Studded Cast
The series boasts a stellar ensemble cast including Peter Sarsgaard as Tommy Molto, O-T Fagbenle as Nico Della Guardia, Bill Camp as Raymond Horgan, and Elizabeth Marvel. Notable performances come from Peter Sarsgaard and O-T Fagbenle who play rival prosecutors.
An Engaging Narrative
While Poskuned Innocent may not reinvent the genre, its strength lies in its compelling story and strong performances. The showrunner David E. Kelley brings his expertise from hits like Big Little Lies to craft a story that’s fast-paced and emotionally charged.
Dustin Thomason (Castle Rock), J.J. Abrams and Gyllenhaal himself serve as executive producers, ensuring that the narrative remains engaging throughout its eight episodes.
The star-studded ensemble cast of the thriller also includes Ruth Negga, Bill Camp, Elizabeth Marvel, Peter Sarsgaard, O-T Fagbenle and Renate Reinsve.
A Genuine Experience on Set
Behind the scenes, Gyllenhaal fostered a genuine family environment. According to Kingston Rumi Southwick who plays one of Rusty’s children, Jake bought ice cream trucks to set and it was a really good family environment with the cast, with the crew, with the directors and everybody
. This camaraderie off-screen translated into the on-screen chemistry.
Don’t miss how these elements come together when Presumed Innocent debuts on Apple TV+ on June 12 with its first two episodes.
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