Apple TV+’s hit crime drama has officially found its replacement forJake Gyllenhaal, and the casting seems absolutely perfect. Although Apple TV+ is better known for its repository of highly acclaimed and ambitious sci-fi shows, the streamer has gradually been expanding its television library with shows from other genres as well. One of these happens to be the crime thriller genre which has surprisingly found success, especially with adaptations andtrue story narratives likeBlack Bird,The Crowded Room, andShining Girls.
The streamer also invested in another book adaptation in 2024, which had Jake Gyllenhaal as its lead. Owing to Gyllenhaal’s acting forte and the show’s taut writing, the series' first season performed fairly well among viewers and critics, allowing it to earn a decent Rotten Tomatoes critics' score of 79%. Since the show was also commercially successful, it was renewed for season 2 soon after its opening season’s run. Interestingly, however,the crime series has replaced Jake Gyllenhaal in season 2, and its new casting choice for the leading role almost seems perfect.
After Gyllenhaal’s Solid Season 1 Performance, Presumed Innocent Season 2 Needed A Worthy Replacement
It Would Be Hard For Anyone To Top Gyllenhaal’s Performance
Apple TV+‘sPresumed Innocentis based on Scott Turow’s bookof the same name. It features Jake Gyllenhaal in the leading role of Rusty Sabich, who struggles to prove his own innocence and keep his relationship with his family from falling apart as he becomes the prime suspect in the brutal murder of a colleague with whom he once had an affair. Long before Jake Gyllenhaal portrayed the character, Harrison Ford played him in a movie adaptation of Scott Turow’s novel.
Presumed Innocenthas a 79% rating onRotten Tomatoes.
Replacing Harrison Ford in a role and reimagining such a revered crime thriller is no easy feat. Yet, Jake Gyllenhaal did such an incredible job of capturing the layers of Rusty’s morality, psychological turmoil, guilt, and impulsiveness with his acting abilities thatit became hard not to forget all about the movie and associate only Gyllenhaal with the character while watching the series.If it wasn’t for Gyllenhaal’s nuanced performance, Rusty would only come off as a repulsive character who does not deserve any semblance of redemption.
Because of Gyllenhaal, it is hard not to empathize with Rusty and root for him as he battles to prove his innocence. Rusty is a deeply flawed character who has made several grave mistakes in his past. But Gyllenhaal’s performance ensures audiences still see his human side instead of merely hating him for his actions.
Rachel Brosnahan’s Casting In Presumed Innocent Season 2 Is Great For The Apple TV+ Series
Her Growing Fame Could Bring New Eyes To The Series
Up-and-coming star Rachel Brosnahan has not been a part of too many well-known crime thrillers. However,she has put her acting chops on full display and proven her ability to portray complex, well-written charactersin shows likeHouse of CardsandThe Marvelous Mrs. Maisel.Presumed Innocent season 2is all set to go down the anthology route instead of continuing season 2’s story.
What makes her casting even more beneficial for the Apple TV+ series is that her growing fame after herSupermancasting might also helpPresumed Innocentget more attention.
Similar toshows likeTrue Detective, it will walk through a whole new narrative and feature a new set of characters instead of making the return of familiar faces. Owing to this,Rachel Brosnahan has been cast as Jake Gyllenhaal’s replacement in season 2, where, like Gyllenhaal from season 1, she will play the leading character.
With her performances, Brosnahan has already proven that she has what it takes to perfectly capture the personal and professional struggles of a character caught in the crosshairs of a high-stakes murder mystery drama. But what makes her casting even more beneficial for the Apple TV+ series is that her growing fame after herSupermancasting might also helpPresumed Innocentget more attention.
Rachel Brosnahan’s Role In Presumed Innocent Season 2 Explained
Like Gyllenhaal, She Will Portray A Defendant In A Murder Case
Interestingly,Presumed Innocent’s original author, Scott Turow, has already written two original sequels for the book:InnocentandPresumed Guilty. While one book highlights Rusty’s relationship with Tommy Molto, the other jumps into the future and focuses on Rusty’s life after retirement. Despite having enough source material to continue season 1’s story, however,Apple TV+‘sPresumed Innocentis presenting an original narrative in season 2, which is based on Jo Murray’sDissection of a Murder.
Noma Dumezweni
Judge Lyttle
Scheduled to be published in spring 2026, the bookApple TV+‘sPresumed Innocentseason 2 will adapt is about Leila Reynolds (played by Rachel Brosnahan in the show), who surprisingly ends up landing the high-profile murder case of a well-known judge as the defense lawyer. She realizes she may not even be qualified to take up the case, but her client only wishes to have her as their representative in court. What further raises the stakes for the case is that her husband ends up becoming the prosecutor in the case, forcing her to confront many secrets from her past.
Presumed Innocent
Cast
An eight-episode limited series based on the New York Times bestselling novel of the same name by Scott Turow. Starring Gyllenhaal in the lead role of chief deputy prosecutor Rusty Sabich, the series takes viewers on a gripping journey through the horrific murder that upends the Chicago Prosecuting Attorney’s office when one of its own 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.
