TThe 1990 motion picture Presumed Innocent will be adapted for television by J.J. Abrams, and actors Jake Gyllenhaal and Ruth Negga have been cast in the lead roles. Presumed Innocent, a 1989 movie starring Harrison Ford as prosecutor Rozat “Rusty” Sabich, was adapted from Scott Turow’s 1987 book of the same name. The story follows Rusty as he looks into his colleague’s death, but things get complex when Rusty discovers that he is a suspect. Presumed Innocent will be adapted as an eight-part television series by David E. Kelley and J.J. Abrams, which was announced by Apple TV+ in February.
Jake Gyllenhaal was reportedly in final negotiations to play Rusty in Presumed Innocent back in December, and now Ruth Negga has reportedly joined the series as Barbara Sabich, according to a report from Deadline. In the 1990 movie, Barbara—played by Bonnie Bedelia—plays Rusty’s wife, an artist whose world is thrown upside down when her husband is charged with killing his lover. Negga is best recognized for her role as Tulip in the AMC series Preacher. She was nominated for an Academy Award in 2016 for her performance as Mildred in the movie Loving.
Overview of Presumed Innocent
In collaboration with Warner Bros. Television, Abrams’ Bad Robot Productions and David E. Kelley Productions will produce Presumed Innocent. While Abrams will executive produce, Kelley will act as the series showrunner, executive producer, and writer. Gyllenhaal has agreed to work on the series as an executive producer, even though his part has yet to be entirely confirmed. The accused strives to keep his family and marriage intact, but Kelley’s adaption of the movie will “explore obsession, sex, politics, and the strength and boundaries of love,” according to a teaser he shared. Neither the release date nor the shooting timetable has been disclosed.
Abrams is relatively new to producing legal dramas, but Kelley has been working in the industry for a long time. Kelley handled real estate and small criminal matters while working for a Boston legal company prior to becoming a TV writer and producer. Following his transition to television, Kelley went on to develop, create, and oversee the production of a number of important legal dramas, including Ally McBeal, Boston Legal, and The Lincoln Lawyer. As a writer, Kelley contributed to L.A. Law and Doogie Howser.
Presumed Innocent appears to be in good hands with Abrams and bin charge and A-list talents like Gyllenhaal and Negga. Gyllenhaal is in final negotiations to land the part, and while his casting hasn’t been officially confirmed, it seems hopeful given that he has been confirmed as the series’ executive producer. Fans of legal drama may anticipate Kelley’s adaptation of Presumed Innocent, albeit it might be some time before the series premieres on television.