Scott Turow, renowned author of the iconic 1987 novel Presumed Innocent, recently elaborated on why the much-anticipated second season of the show, produced by David E. Kelley and J.J. Abrams, will not be drawing from his upcoming book. Titled Presumed Guilty, this fresh installment revives the beloved character Rusty Sabich, who now finds himself in the role of defender for his fiancé’s son facing murder accusations. Set 35 years after the original narrative, this new release marks the third entry in Turow’s series.
In an insightful interview with The Wrap, Turow explains the complexities involved in adapting his sequels. He highlights that a significant time gap complicates the narrative continuity, and one key actor crucial to the storyline, Peter Sarsgaard, has expressed reluctance to reprise his role. Turow also notes that crafting a compelling second or third act, which could surpass the achievements of Season 1, presents a formidable challenge. He stated:
‘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.
Discussing his forthcoming legal thriller Presumed Guilty, Turow teases the intriguing return of Rusty, revealing:
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.
As for the direction of Season 2, Turow has indicated he’s comfortable with the show taking its own creative path, having adopted a hands-off approach to his role as executive producer:
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.
Implications for Presumed Innocent Season 2
A Distinct Source for Presumed Innocent Season 2
Despite the absence of Presumed Guilty as source material, it appears the creative team has devised a compelling new direction for Apple TV+’s acclaimed legal drama. Turow confirmed in his interview that Jo Murray’s upcoming debut novel, Dissection of a Murder, will serve as the primary inspiration for the new season. Slated for release in the spring of 2026, this legal thriller centers around Leila Reynolds as she navigates defending her first murder case against her husband, who happens to be the prosecutor.
The adaptation of Presumed Innocent was officially renewed in July 2024, with star Jake Gyllenhaal returning not only as an actor but also as executive producer, alongside Turow, Kelley, and Abrams. The renewal announcement revealed that Season 2 will center around a new case. While it remains uncertain whether previous characters will make a return, the confirmation of the inspiration for the plot suggests a potential shift towards exploring a colleague of Rusty (Gyllenhaal).
Our Perspective on Presumed Innocent Season 2
Incorporating Elements from Turow’s Literary Works
The decision for Presumed Innocent to diverge from Presumed Guilty seems prudent, as while the book serves well as a sequel, it does not seamlessly integrate into the evolving narrative of the limited series format. The Apple TV+ adaptation has shifted its focus, particularly towards Barbara, a central character, while in Presumed Guilty, Rusty is poised to marry someone new, Bea. This shift presents narrative gaps to fill, suggesting the series has made a strategic choice in seeking new material.
Conversely, since Presumed Guilty involves Rusty’s legal involvement, it could provide a wellspring of ideas and plotlines for future seasons. Furthermore, the earlier book, Innocent, which features an intense court battle between Rusty and Tommy, could still be artfully woven into the narrative of Presumed Innocent‘s second season, skillfully avoiding the absence of Sarsgaard. There is a strong likelihood that the show will harness concepts or themes from Turow’s new book in crafting an engaging new season.
Source: The Wrap
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