Presumed Innocent is going to tackle an entirely new criminal case with its upcoming second season.
Apple TV+’s Emmy Award-nominated crime drama based its first season on author Scott Turow’s 1987 novel of the same name — and while Turow did write direct sequels to Presumed Innocent, the show will be going in a completely different direction for its sophomore season. Series creator David E. Kelley and producer J.J. Abrams are adapting a crime novel that hasn’t even been published yet — Jo Murray’s highly-anticipated 2026 debut, Dissection of a Murder.
Season 1 star Jake Gyllenhaal remains involved in Presumed Innocent as an executive producer, but Deadline reported in June 2025 that Kelley and his team’s next case will feature Superman’s Rachel Brosnahan in a leading role. Midsommar and The Perfect Couple’s Jack Reynor was cast in another major role in July 2025.
Watch With Us has everything you need to know about the return of Presumed Innocent for season 2:
The first season adapted Turow’s 1987 crime thriller about Chicago prosecutor Rusty Sabich (Gyllenhaal) becoming the prime suspect in the murder of his colleague Carolyn Polhemus (Renate Reinsve). While Sabich admitted to having an affair with Polhemus, he maintained his innocence and fought against being railroaded by deputy prosecutor Tommy Molto (Peter Sarsgaard).
Apple touted Presumed Innocent as its most-watched drama series ever when it renewed the show in July 2024. At that time, Apple confirmed that Turow would remain on board for season two as a co-executive producer, leading many to suspect that Kelley would adapt one of the author’s two direct sequels, 2010’s Innocent or 2025’s Presumed Guilty. (Presumed Innocent was first turned into a 1987 movie starring Harrison Ford, while Bill Pullman starred in a TNT movie based on the sequel novel, Innocent.)
Instead, Deadline confirmed in October 2024 that Presumed Innocent is leaving Turow’s literary universe behind entirely to adapt Jo Murray’s forthcoming book Dissection of a Murder. Since Murray’s debut thriller doesn’t even release until May 2026, very little is known about the project aside from a short synopsis via publisher Pan Macmillan.
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The synopsis reads: “A dead judge. A silent defendant. And a courtroom full of liars. When Leila Reynolds is handed her first murder case, she’s shocked at how high-profile it is: the murder of a well-respected, well-known judge. This shouldn’t be the kind of case she’s leading; it’s way beyond her expertise. But the defendant, Jack Millman, is clear. He wants her, and only her. To make things worse, he’s refusing to talk. How is she supposed to prove herself on what appears to be an unwinnable case?”
The synopsis continues, “Losing is not an option. She must find the most persuasive argument. Trials aren’t won by convincing judges or fellow barristers – they’re all about convincing a jury. Suddenly, Leila finds herself fighting not only to keep Jack out of prison, but also to keep her own secrets buried. It’s true what they say – there are two sides to every story. Guilty or not guilty?”
Before Apple TV+ confirmed it was moving away from Turow’s universe, season 1 cast member Sarsgaard revealed to IndieWire that he’d quit Presumed Innocent. The announcement came as a shock to many fans since Sarsgaard’s character, overzealous prosecutor Tommy Molto, is featured in Turow’s sequels.
Sarsgaard later explained that he left Presumed Innocent in order to avoid any long-term commitments to the streaming legal drama.
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“[I’m] not really that interested in sequels,” Sarsgaard said. “I think I’ve only ever done one season of anything. I think I’m a one-season person.”
O-T Fagbenle and Peter Sarsgaard in ‘Presumed Innocent.’ Apple TV+
The actor later pointed out, “There’s a very valuable thing in saying goodbye because then you have to look for another source of inspiration and then you change. I get asked all the time, ‘Did I gain weight? Lose weight? Grow a beard?’ All of that. I’m sort of just doing all of that all the time.”
Deadline reported in June 2025 that Brosnahan was cast as Leila Reynolds, the rookie lawyer hired by an enigmatic client, Jack Millman, accused of killing a respected judge. Brosnahan previously won two consecutive Golden Globes and an Emmy Award for playing the title character in Prime Video’s The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel, and most recently portrayed DC Comics character Lois Lane in the 2025 summer blockbuster, Superman.
Midsommar actor Reynor joined Presumed Innocent season 2 in July 2025 in a mysterious role, with Deadline reporting that there are options for other leading male roles to be written into the show.
Rachel Brosnahan Jack Reynor join ‘Presumed Innocent.’ Matt Winkelmeyer / WireImage / Jeff Spicer / Getty Images
The rest of Presumed Innocent’s season 2 cast will be unveiled as development continues.
Apple TV+ hasn’t yet specified a release window for Presumed Innocent season 2 because the project is still casting for leading roles. Unlike many streaming shows, Apple TV+ chose to stagger Presumed Innocent season 1 with weekly episodic releases, so the streamer could use a similar schedule for its next season.
An official episode count hasn’t been announced yet, but it’s worth noting that season 1 featured eight episodes in total. Kelley either wrote or cowrote seven of Presumed Innocent’s eight episodes the first time around, with Sharr White and Miki Johnson tackling the one installment that Kelley didn’t contribute to.
