It’s a thrilling courtroom drama simmering with secrets, betrayals, and a murder that rocks a Chicago prosecutor’s office to its core, but in some ways, Apple TV+’s Presumed Innocent is also a family drama.
Inspired by Scott Turow’s bestselling 1987 novel and the iconic 1990 film of the same name starring Harrison Ford, this reimagined series, helmed by David E. Kelley of Boston Legal (2004-2008) fame and consisting of eight episodes, delves deeper into the complex characters and their tangled relationships. At the heart of this thrilling narrative are Jake Gyllenhaal (Road House, Southpaw) and Peter Sarsgaard (Orphan, Green Lantern), two actors with an intriguing connection – they’re brothers-in-law in real life (Sarsgaard is married to Maggie Gyllenhaal, Jake’s sister), but fierce rivals on screen.
Gyllenhaal, taking on the dual role of executive producer and star of Presumed Innocent, offers insight into the creative process both in front of and behind the camera at a recent roundtable that Geek Culture attended. “Being an executive producer on the show was about trying to really learn from David E. Kelley and J.J. Abrams, the behemoths of television, and from their experience and to see how they craft and shape a show,” he explains, highlighting the unique opportunity to witness the creative process unfold in real time.
While he admires his sister Maggie Gyllenhaal’s (Donnie Darko, The Dark Knight) directorial work, Jake is focused on honing his own storytelling skills, “What I’m excited about is, yes, directing, but also the most intimate time is when you’re alone with your own thoughts before you begin to collaborate with other people. And that, to me, is what I have neglected, and that I would like to give more attention to in my career moving forward, if I can be so lucky.”
And as actress-writer Nana Mensah (Queen of Glory), who plays Detective Alana Rodriguez, points out, Jake’s directorial debut is likely imminent, “[Jake] is from a family, obviously, of storytellers, I think it is imminent that he will direct something fantastic.”
Gyllenhaal delves deep into the complexities of Rusty Sabich, a man wrestling with hidden guilt and mounting frustration. Accused of murdering his mistress and colleague, his frustration simmers beneath a forced composure.
“There was a certain point at which there was a need to infuse the scene with an energy that becomes watchable, but also a question mark,” he explains the balancing act that drives the show’s suspense, leaving viewers constantly guessing about Rusty’s true nature.
This suspense is heightened by the show’s departure from the “time capsule” that was the 1990 film.
“The original source material of the book is so much richer, has so much more breadth and depth to kind of dive into these characters, what they’re exploring, what they’re feeling and the nuances of the dynamics between them. We had eight episodes to explore it,” she says, highlighting the show’s ability to delve into the nuances that a two-hour movie simply couldn’t.
“Everything is so different from when those two pieces of creativity kind of came to the fore, so I think it’s nice to revisit them with a lens for 2024.” The result is a constantly shifting landscape of loyalties and suspicions that keeps audiences hooked.
Gyllenhaal also praises the show’s format, emphasising its ‘propulsive’ nature, “It’s made by two of the best storytellers in television who really know how to make something very, in my opinion, kind of binge-worthy, and know how to create tension in a way that very few people really do.”
But it’s not just the plot that keeps viewers engaged – it’s the performances of the talented ensemble cast, which includes Gyllenhaal’s real-life brother-in-law, Peter Sarsgaard. Sarsgaard steps into the shoes of Tommy Molto, the ambitious prosecutor determined to bring Rusty down. Their real-life bond proves invaluable in creating the palpable tension between their characters.
“In order to play enemies, you have to be friends, deep down under it, right?” Sarsgaard remarks.
“The only people that get so intensely angry at each other are people that have some connection of some kind. So it was quite helpful that Jake and I have a very strong connection. Jake is like a brother to me.”
Their shared history, which includes living together and working on previous projects like Jarhead (2005), has created a foundation of trust and understanding that allows them to push each other’s performances to new heights, resulting in a raw and authentic on-screen rivalry.
Sarsgaard’s portrayal of Tommy is nuanced and compelling. He sees his character not as a villain, but as a man driven by a strong sense of justice, albeit clouded by envy and ambition. “Tommy Malto never lies,” Sarsgaard insists. “I go with what I think is the most plausible thing. There is a lot of evidence pointing toward Rusty so I’m not going to ruin my case by pushing evidence that isn’t solid. And by the way, when you go to take down someone you’re envious of, it doesn’t always feel that great.”
Sarsgaard’s meticulous preparation for his role involved working closely with a legal advisor to ensure the authenticity of his character’s courtroom demeanour. He emphasises the importance of understanding the “why” behind his character’s words and actions, a process that allowed him to deliver compelling and believable performances in the show’s intense legal scenes. “I just worked with that lawyer quite a bit, and said, like, let’s talk about why I’m saying this at this moment. What does it mean? What am I referring to?”
All in all, Apple TV+’s Presumed Innocent is more than just a whodunit, it’s a character-driven exploration of ambition, envy, betrayal, and the complexities of human relationships. As Jake Gyllenhaal succinctly puts it, “One of the best things about doing it and interpreting it was taking, potentially, what would be the obvious choice of something, and turning it on its end. And so each one of the actors has done something with each one of the characters that I don’t think you would expect or have seen before.”
Presumed Innocent is now streaming on Apple TV+, with new episodes dropping weekly.
Natalie is a big fan of anything related to movies, TV shows, games, and comics — you name it. When she’s not reading or geeking out about the latest shows on Netflix, she’s probably playing Honkai: Star Rail, cosplaying, or daydreaming of meeting her idols.
