Many wonder whether Apple TV+’s slow-burn thriller Presumed Innocent is based on a true story. The Apple TV+ original series follows the brutal murder of Carolyn Polhemus at the Chicago Prosecuting Attorney’s office, where she worked as a colleague. Things get personal and scandalous when the chief deputy prosecutor, Rusty Sabich, is accused of the heinous crime.
What Sabich is now facing is a personal and legal battle, one in which he will have to prove his innocence in the face of an illicit affair with Polhemus. This is an increasingly precarious legal and personal landscape whose unfolding does much to unravel Sabich’s professional and personal life.
Is Presumed Innocent based on a true story?
The realism in the Chicago Prosecuting Attorney’s office is palpable with their realistic depiction. However, Presumed Innocent is not based on a true story but is inspired by Scott Turow’s 1987 novel.
It is a work of fiction written and created by David E. Kelley, the creator of multiple procedurals such as L.A. Law and Chicago Hope, and directed by Greg Yaitanes and Anne Sewitsky.
Which Scott Turrow Novel is it Inspired From?
Presumed Innocent is based on a novel of the same name, published in 1987 by Scott Turow. Properly, this book is believed to be among such seminal works of the legal thriller genre as in-court scenes are saturated with the unparalleled authenticity of a real practicing lawyer at work, into which Turow weaves an extraordinary scenario—extremely gripping and minutely detailed.
The book Presumed Innocent distinguishes itself not only with the suspense of the plot but also with in-depth psychological insight into the characters. This novel’s critical and commercial success cemented Turow’s status as a preeminent, important voice in the genre by synthesizing legal expertise with compelling fiction.
Are there any other adaptions available?
Over three decades before the new pulp crime show of Jake Gyllenhaal, Turow’s book was adapted into a movie in the year 1990, also having the same title. Directed by Alan J. Pakula and starring Harrison Ford as Rusty Sabich, it stuck to the original material, perfectly grasping the heavy atmosphere of this novel and daring to implement its confusing plot twists.
The performance of Ford as Sabich was critically acclaimed for bringing finesse and depth into the screen, consequently compelling the man’s fight or struggle for retribution against the backdrop of mounting evidence pointing toward his guilt.
Other notable performances were Brian Dennehy as Prosecuting Attorney Raymond Horgan, Bonnie Bedelia as Sabich’s wife Barbara, and Raúl Juliá as the astute defense attorney Sandy Stern.
The movie brought applause regarding the clever script, atmospheric direction, and strong performance. Although several critics did mention that the big issue with adapting the finely detailed narrative of a novel into a two-hour film was difficult, Presumed Innocent was considered a very successful and faithful adaptation of Turow’s work.
About Presumed Innocent
Presumed Innocent is an upcoming American legal thriller miniseries created by David E. Kelley, based on the 1987 novel of the same name by Scott Turow. It premiered on Apple TV+ on June 12, 2024
A prosecutor becomes the prime suspect in the murder of one of his colleagues.
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