Presumed Innocentseason 2 might not premiere until mid-2026, following the announcement of the source material for the legal thriller’s follow-up.Presumed Innocentseason 1 endedwhere the Scott Turow novel of the same name did, albeit with a twist ending that differentiated itself from the source material. While season 1 was airing, Apple TV+ renewed the show for season 2, though it was unclear what the path for the show moving forward would be. However, it was indicated that Rusty Sabich (Jake Gyllenhaal) would no longer be the main character.
Now,Deadlinehas confirmed thatPresumed Innocentseason 2 will be based on the upcoming bookDissection of a Murder, the debut novel of Jo Murray. The book will be published in spring 2026, its far-off date suggesting season 2 of the legal thriller won’t be premiering until after the book comes out. This meansthe show might not return until as early as mid-2026, though it could be longer depending on how much of the adaptation is worked on before the book arrives on shelves.
What Presumed Innocent’s Possible Mid-2026 Release Window Means For Season 2
The Show’s Extended Break Means More Time To Develop
Dissection of a Murder, and by extension,Presumed Innocentseason 2,follows Leila Reynolds, a defense attorney given her first ever murder case. However, as the case continues to grow in depth, complicated by her husband being the prosecutor, she ends up in a situation that becomes more personal than she’s equipped for. Season 2 is expected to pull inspiration from the novel, making it unclear how much of the book’s exact events will translate over to the show. Some liberties might be taken, much like in season 1.
One Presumed Innocent Character Deserves An Apology After Season 1’s Finale
One Presumed Innocent character was unnecessarily misunderstood throughout the season and clearly deserves an apology after the show’s season 1 finale
The Apple TV+ show also might be pulling some characters from season 1 to cameo in season 2, creating a shared universe through thePresumed Innocentcast. Given thatGyllenhaal and Turow will remain on as executive producers, alongside J.J. Abrams and David E. Kelley, there’s a chance Murray’s book adaptation takes some liberties to make familiar faces appear. With plenty of time to develop the new season in general, it appears the extended break will be to the series' benefit as it learns to evolve into an anthology show.
Our Take On The Lengthy Wait For Presumed Innocent Season 2
It’s A Unique Direction That Has Us Intrigued
This won’t be the first time an anthology series has used an unpublished book as inspiration for its series, withAmerican Horror Story: Delicatebeing an adaptation of Danielle Valentine’sDelicate Condition, which came out the month before the show. We’re interested to see what this means forPresumed Innocent, especially given how much time there is before Murray’s novel gets released. With so much time left for it to develop, we’re expecting just as refined an experience as season 1 managed to provide.
Presumed Innocentwas also adapted in a 1990 film of the same name starring Harrison Ford.
Presumed Innocent
Cast
An eight-episode limited series based on the New York Times bestselling novel of the same name by Scott Turow. Starring Gyllenhaal in the lead role of chief deputy prosecutor Rusty Sabich, the series takes viewers on a gripping journey through the horrific murder that upends the Chicago Prosecuting Attorney’s office when one of its own is suspected of the crime. The series explores obsession, sex, politics, and the power and limits of love, as the accused fights to hold his family and marriage together.
