Like the rest of you, I’ve been absolutely hooked on Apple TV’s latest hit: Presumed Innocent. It’s been a conflicting time for me, as I never expected to enjoy anything starring Jake Gyllenhaal, AKA the scarf-stealing, 21st-birthday-skipping ex-boyfriend of Taylor Swift. It’s reminding me a lot of my parents’ divorce, to be honest. It turns out that my emotional turmoil is going to continue for a lot longer because Presumed Innocent has been renewed for another season!! Yep, we can expect a season 2 of Presumed Innocent thanks to it consistently holding the top spot on Apple TV+ since its debut. It is their most streamed show EVER, even more than goofy, loveable Ted Lasso. So, let’s take the stand and dive into all your questions, starting with the most pressing: Will there be a Presumed Innocent season 2?!?!?!
Has Presumed Innocent been renewed for season 2?
Indeed, the men, women, and theys in suits at Apple TV+ have confirmed that fans can look forward to season two of Presumed Innocent. The announcement came on July 12th as a result of its strong performance on the streamer. This is surprising, as the reveal-all finale hasn’t even come out, and most streamers wait until a season has wrapped up to make this decision. Aside from its many Taylor Swift-betraying viewers, the show is popular with the critics! Jake Gyllenhaal always knew how to work a crowd, am I right? It has been enjoying a 76% from critics on Rotten Tomatoes and an even higher 80% from viewers!! Wow! I wish I was that popular!
What will Presumed Innocent season 2 be about?
Aha, here’s where the real twist happens. Since we’re expecting the murder of Carolyn Polhemus to be wrapped up in the finale, what will season 2 cover? Apple TV+ has confirmed that season two will focus on an entirely new case. Yep, you guessed it, we’re being given another anthology series! Gear up for another The White Lotus, only with less pretty outfits and no Jennifer Coolidge (sob). However, it’s unclear whether we can expect the same prosecutors and recurring cast, just with a new case. Or will one of them be accused of another crime? My money would be on Carolyn’s strange kid.
Will season 2 also be based on a book?
The first season was based on Scott Turrow’s bestselling novel from 1987, which was originally adapted into a film in 1990 starring Harrison Ford — DILF. There is no clear answer on what to expect for season two, as they could go a multitude of ways. It seems likely that season 2 of Presumed Innocent will draw upon the follow-up book, The Burden Of Proof. It’s set in the same world and even town as Rusty’s case, but instead follows the character Sandy Stern from Presumed Innocent after the events in that novel. Sandy Stern is a defense attorney, and in the aftermath of his wife’s death, he realizes that there is a lot about his marriage he wasn’t aware of. At the same time, Sandy is defending commodities broker Dixon Hartnell, who is frankly a bit of a dick.
There’s just one little snag in that pair of tights: Sandy Stern wasn’t included in the series adaptation of Presumed Innocent. No one at Apple TV+ thought that one through, eh? Instead, we got Gabby Bean as Mya the defense attorney, which was an upgrade, in my humble opinion. Maybe season two will follow Mya on a new case, as she definitely didn’t get the space to shine this season, or it could just follow Rusty again.
Will Jake Gyllenhaal return for season 2?
Jake Gyllenhaal is set to return as an executive producer for the show, along with David E. Kelley, J.J Abrams, and the book’s author, Scott Turrow. But we’re yet to discover whether he will be gracing our screens as Rusty Sabich. That depends on whether Rusty will spend the coming years behind bars, as that wouldn’t be a very interesting storyline. If he isn’t found guilty in the finale, perhaps he’ll show off his prosecution skills in season two without the threat of life in jail.
Rusty is not in the follow-up novel, but he is in the true book sequel, Innocent, which came out in 2011. This pits Rusty and Tommy Molto against each other again, this time for the mysterious death of Rusty’s wife — ruh roh. However, this novel takes place twenty years after the first, so it seems unlikely that it would be the source material for season 2 — unless their prosthetics budget is loaded.
When can we expect to see the new season?
Now, don’t go murdering your coworker/lover, but it is probably going to take some time. Season one began filming in February 2023, one month after the cast was announced. We don’t know much about the series’ production, but it was likely impacted by the Hollywood writers’ and actors’ strikes. Second-unit photography took place in November 2023, and it is likely that filming wrapped up around then as well. Season one premiered in June 2024.
Maybe we’re lucky, and season two has already started production, but it’s likely that we’ll be waiting. Season two will have a new storyline and therefore cast, so they’ll need to do casting first. I would like to recommend Millie Bobby Brown, Ella Purnell, and Jeremy Allen White for literally no reason at all. If that goes swiftly, season two could begin filming in late 2024. That would mean that the first episodes could be released in the fall or winter of 2025, or planned for the start of 2026.
But if you’re looking to fill the Presumed Innocent-sized hole in your chest, try Under the Bridge, Shining Girls, or Manhunt.
