Presumed Innocent

Based on Scott Turow’s 1987 legal thriller, Presumed Innocent is Apple TV+’s latest glossy, all-star drama series. The cast is hugely impressive, led by Jake Gyllenhaal, Ruth Negga, Bill Camp, Peter Sarsgaard and Renate Reinsve. We follow Rusty Sabich (Gyllenhaal), who becomes the prime suspect in the murder of his colleague and lover Carolyn Polhemus (Reinsve). With a new District Attorney in place, the evidence seems to point to Rusty, but is there more than meets the eye?

The novel has previously been adapted for the big screen starring Harrison Ford, but with a seven-episode show, we get far more of a feel for the ensemble of characters involved, allowing the story room to breathe. Showrunner David E Kelly, behind hits like Ally McBeal and Big Little Lies, has demonstrated over the years he has a knack for balancing a gripping story with impressive character development and that is the case here.

Gyllenhaal delivers some of his strongest work in recent years with Rusty: a prosecutor himself, he knows how the system works and how incriminating the evidence against him is. We get a sense of Rusty’s desperation to clear his name and how conflicted he is by his relationship with Carolyn and its impact on his marriage and children. The calibre of the cast makes an already compelling story into a must-watch, and it is thrilling to see actors of this quality facing off against each other, particularly whenever Sarsgaard and Gyllenhaal are given the chance to lock horns.

Away from the cast, Presumed Innocent feels like prestige TV from the visuals and direction from Greg Yaitanes and Anne Sewitsky, bringing a sense of style and sheen. Kelly isn’t the only major name behind the series, with JJ Abrahams also on board as an Executive Producer.

The show creator again proves he knows how to expertly build suspense making this a captivating watch, as the audience is left second-guessing with plenty of twists and turns. The performances help elevate the series and make it a worthwhile re-telling of its acclaimed source material, differentiating it from previous takes. This is another winning show for Apple TV+, with all involved at the top of their game. delivering a knockout legal thriller that feels genuinely fresh.

Christopher Connor

Presumed Innocent is released on Apple TV+ on 12^th June 2024.

Watch the trailer for Presumed Innocent here: