“Endlessly watchable”: Inside “guilty pleasure” legal thriller Presumed Innocent’s “ingeniously cast” series 2

If you’re looking for an escape that doesn’t require any travel, then Apple TV+'s guilty pleasure legal thriller, Presumed Innocent, is just the ticket. The first series was called "endlessly watchable" by critics and became the streamer’s most-watched drama of all time (no mean feat) - and now, it’s returning for an ingeniously cast second series.

Suggesting we're in for a rather different new series, Rachel Brosnahan (best-known for hit Prime Video series The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel) will lead the second instalment, while also serving as executive producer. And, while the first series was inspired by Scott Turow’s courtroom thriller of the same name, series 2 is inspired by author Jo Murray’s debut legal thriller, Dissection of a Murder, meaning it's likely to be very dark indeed.

Ahead of series 2's arrival on our screens, here's everything you need to know about Presumed Innocent, including the cast, new plot details and how you can watch it.

What is Presumed Innocent about?

Series 1, which was released in June 2024, was based on the 1987 novel of the same name by Scott Turow and starred Jake Gyllenhaal as Rusty Sabich, a Chicago prosecutor who was accused of murdering his colleague and lover, Carolyn Polhemus (Renate Reinsve). The question was: did he actually do it?

The series delved into whether Rusty was innocent or not, while also exploring the impact of the case on his family, including his wife, Barbara (Ruth Negga), and their children. The series ended with a (seriously) major twist, but you won’t find any spoilers here, so if you haven’t yet seen it, you’ll have to watch it to find out what happened. Trust us, you’ll be flabbergasted!

What will happen in Presumed Innocent series 2?

As we mentioned, series 2 will be an entirely new story, and will be based on Jo Murray’s legal thriller, Dissection of a Murder. The book will be published this July and centres around Leila Reynolds who’s handed her first murder case: that of a well-respected, well-known judge. The case is far more high-profile than she could have imagined given her level of expertise but, despite her reservations, it seems there’s no way out of it.

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While it’s not the sort of case Leila feels she should be leading, the defendant, Jack Millman, wants her – and only her – to lead it. He’s also refusing to speak. So, where does she start – and how on earth is she supposed to win? According to the Pan Macmillan synopsis:” 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? You decide…”

It’s not yet clear how closely the new series will follow the plot of Jo Murray’s book, but we'd say its a pretty gripping starting point. We also know that, in the book, Leila's husband ends up becoming the prosecutor in the case, which raises the stakes even higher. Here's hoping the series follows suit...

Who's starring in Presumed Innocent series 2?

As we mentioned, we know that Rachel Brosnahan is set to lead the series as Leila Reynolds. We also know that series 1 regulars Jake Gyllenhaal, who played Rusty Sabich, and Peter Sarsgaard, who played Tommy Molto, sadly won’t return to the series. We’re expecting more cast details to be released soon, so watch this space for more details.

Is Presumed Innocent any good?

Yes – as we mentioned, the series received hugely positive reviews when it was released last June and was described as “endlessly watchable”, “slick” and “a delightful guilty pleasure”. Variety also called it “one of the best legal thrillers to arrive on television in years”. Sold yet?

How can I watch Presumed Innocent series 2?

Apple TV+ hasn't yet shared a release date for Presumed Innocent series 2, but we're expecting filming to begin this autumn, which would mean it's not likely to arrive on our screens until 2026. As soon we have a confirmed date, we'll share it here. In the meantime, you can catch up on series 1 on Apple TV+, and find out what other legal dramas are due to arrive in 2025 here.