The first season of Presumed Innocenta show starring Jake Gyllenhaal, was a huge success. In fact, it became the most-watched drama on Apple TV+ at the time it came out. Because it was so popular, the show was quickly given the green light for a second season, but there was a small problem.
Season 1 was based on a book by Scott Turow, also called Presumed Innocent. The show told the whole story of the book across its eight episodes. It even changed the ending, which makes it harder to continue with the next book in the series, Innocentwhich came out in 2010.
So, instead of trying to follow the original book series exactly, Apple TV+ has decided to take the show in a totally new direction. The second season will not continue Rusty’s story. Jake Gyllenhaal, who played Rusty, won’t be acting in season 2, though he will still help make the show as an executive producer.
Season 2 will now follow a completely different legal case and new characters; it’s turning into an anthology series, which means each season will tell a different story, like True Detective or Black Mirror.
Wondering who’s going to star in the new season, what it’s about, or when it’s coming out on Apple TV+? Keep reading, here’s everything we know so far about Presumed Innocent season 2.
There’s no official release date yet for Presumed Innocent season 2. As of June 2025, the show is still in the early stages of casting its new characters. So far, only one cast member has been announced, Rachel Brosnahan, who will be playing the lead role this time.
Since they’re still getting the cast together, it looks like filming will probably begin in the next couple of months. That means we can expect the new season to come out sometime in 2026, if everything goes as planned.
More updates will be shared as soon as new information becomes available.
There’s no official storyline confirmed yet for Presumed Innocent season 2, but we do know that the show is changing its format. Instead of continuing Jake Gyllenhaal’s character Rusty’s story, the series will now become an anthology, meaning each season will tell a completely new legal case with new characters.
According to Deadline, season 2 won’t be based on another book by Presumed Innocent author Scott Turow. Instead, it will take inspiration from a brand-new legal thriller called Dissection of a Murder by Jo Murray, a book that hasn’t even been released yet! The book is scheduled to come out in spring 2026.
Dissection of a Murder follows a defence lawyer named Leila Reynolds. She gets handed a huge murder case, the killing of a famous and well-respected judge. It’s a high-stakes case that she doesn’t feel ready for, but the man accused of the crime, Jack Millman, is insistent: he wants Leila to defend him, and no one else.
To make things even harder, Jack refuses to speak. He’s completely silent, giving Leila no help at all in building his defence. On top of that, the prosecutor in the case is Leila’s own husband, which adds a personal and emotional twist to everything.
According to the book’s description, this is a courtroom full of secrets, lies, and pressure. Leila has to prove her client’s innocence, even as she struggles to keep her own past hidden. The story raises a big question for readers, and for the future audience of the show, is Jack guilty or innocent? And how far will Leila go to protect her own truth?
If the show follows this storyline, season 2 of Presumed Innocent promises to be just as tense and twist-filled as the first, but with a brand-new legal mystery at the centre.
So far, only one actor has been officially confirmed for Presumed Innocent season 2, and that’s Rachel Brosnahan. The Superman actress will be stepping into the lead role of Leila, the defence lawyer at the centre of the new legal case. She’s essentially taking over the spotlight from Jake Gyllenhaal, who led the first season but won’t be returning this time around.
According to VarietyGyllenhaal and most of his season 1 co-stars, like Ruth Negga, are not expected to come back. However, there were earlier talks about possibly bringing back a few familiar faces, similar to how The White Lotus keeps some characters across seasons. That means we might still see a few actors from season 1 in new or recurring roles, such as Bill Camp, O-T Fagbenle, Nana Mensah, or Elizabeth Marvel. But as of now, nothing has been officially confirmed for them.
One actor we definitely won’t be seeing again is Peter Sarsgaard. He played Tommy Molto in the first season but has made it clear he’s not interested in returning. Speaking to IndieWirehe explained that he prefers one-season roles and doesn’t enjoy doing sequels or playing the same character more than once. He believes that saying goodbye to a character allows him to keep growing, both as an actor and a person.
Sarsgaard shared that he values the variety in his career, always changing roles, collaborating with new people, and finding fresh inspiration. For him, acting is not just about repeating performances but about constant transformation and discovery.
So while the new season is already shaping up with Rachel Brosnahan in the lead, the rest of the cast is still a mystery. We’ll have to wait and see who joins her in what promises to be an intense and gripping new chapter in this legal anthology series.
Since Presumed Innocent season 2 hasn’t started filming yet, there’s no trailer available right now.
But don’t worry, as soon as a trailer is released, it’ll be added here so you won’t miss it. In the meantime, if you’re feeling curious or want a refresher, you can rewatch the trailer for season 1 to get back into the courtroom drama mood.
Season 1 of Presumed Innocent is now available to watch in full on Apple TV+. If you haven’t seen it yet or want to dive back into the gripping courtroom drama, you can stream all the episodes there. Just sign up for Apple TV+ to start watching.
