PRESUMED INNOCENT on Apple TV+ is a new series starring Jake Gyllenhaal. He’s playing the role Harrison Ford portrayed in the 1990 movie adaptation of the same book. Read our full Presumed Innocent limited series review here!
PRESUMED INNOCENT is a new Apple TV+ crime thriller mystery series. It stars Jake Gyllenhaal as Rusty Sabich, which was the same role Harrison Ford played in the 1990 film adaptation of the same book.
The series has eight episodes and we’ve been able to do an advanced screening of the first seven. Trust me, when I say that the final episode matters because I am very eagerly awaiting that final conclusion to the mystery.
Continue reading our Presumed Innocent series review below. Start watching on Apple TV+ from June 12, 2024.
When the prosecutor becomes the suspect
In Presumed Innocent, we follow Rusty Sabich (Jake Gyllenhaal) as he goes from being a successful prosecutor to the main suspect in a murder case. The victim is a colleague, so it hits everyone at the Chicago Prosecuting Attorney’s office hard.
What makes matters worse for Rusty is that he was having an affair with her. Her name was Carolyn Polhemus (Renate Reinsve) and she was single and very popular among all the men. Mostly because they wanted her and couldn’t have her.
Meanwhile, Rusty himself has been married to his devoted wife, Barbara (Ruth Negga) for decades. They have two children and appear to have a solid and happy family life. Still, it didn’t keep Rusty from getting obsessed with Carolyn.
And when I say obsessed, we’re talking stalking methods which makes for a whole lot of evidence against him. I won’t reveal too much here, because watching this mess unfold is a fascinating roller coaster of wild escalations.
The fact that she was killed in a manner very similar to a brutal murder case Carolyn and Rusty worked on previously, does not help.
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From book to movie to series
With this limited series adaption, Presumed Innocent is going through the same evolution as Fatal Attraction. That one also started as a book and was then made into a movie in 1987. An iconic one, I think it’s safe to say.
Then in 2023, it was released as a series on Paramount+. One that did try to deal with some of the issues of the movie, but wasn’t the greatest experience.
Presumed Innocent was made into a movie in 1990 and now this series version is coming to Apple TV+. Fortunately, this Apple TV+ limited series is a much better overall experience than the Paramount+ Fatal Attraction series.
Well, to me, anyway.
Overall, the story of this series has lots of twists and turns. Much is revealed along the way, so it keeps you hooked. Also, it is very dark and brutal – along with being rather graphic and steamy at times.
Watch Presumed Innocent on Apple TV+
The creator of this new Apple TV+ series is none other than David E. Kelley. Some of his recent series are Stephen King’s Mr. Mercedes, The Undoing, Big Little Lies, Nine Perfect Strangers, and Anatomy of a Scandal.
Currently in development from David E. Kelley is another mini-series based on the Stephen King book “The Institue”. I loved that book, so I’m looking forward to it.
As already mentioned, Presumed Innocent is also based on a book, and the author of the novel was Scott Turow. Other teleplay writers include Miki Johnson and Sharr White.
The directors of the eight episodes in the series are Greg Yaitanes (Castle Rock, House of the Dragon) and Anne Sewitsky (Black Mirror, Monsterland).
The first two episodes are released on the premiere day – which should be plenty to get you hooked and keep coming back. The final episode comes out on July 24, 2024, so it really is quite the summer event of Apple TV+.
Having not watched the final episode, I can’t speak to if the ending follows the novel or not.
Presumed Innocent premieres with the first two episodes on June 12 followed by a new episode every Wednesday through July 24.
Details
Creator: David E. Kelley
Directors: Anne Sewitsky, Greg Yaitanes
Script: David E. Kelley, Sharr White, Miki Johnson
Cast: Jake Gyllenhaal, Ruth Negga, Bill Camp, Elizabeth Marvel, Peter Sarsgaard, O-T Fagbenle, Renate Reinsve, Chase Infiniti, Nana Mensah, Kingston Rumi Southwick
Plot
The series takes viewers on a journey through the horrific murder that upends the Chicago Prosecuting Attorneys’ office when chief deputy prosecutor Rusty Sabich (Gyllenhaal) 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.
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