Apple TV’s 8-Episode Crime Thriller Remake Is So Good, It’s Coming Back As An Anthology

Apple TV has a wide variety of original TV shows, among them a crime thriller series that is so good, it’s changing to an anthology format for its second season. Apple TV has stood out from its streaming competitors thanks to its focus on original content. Some of Apple TV’s projects now rank among the best TV shows of all time, as is the case for Severance, Ted Lasso, and Silo.

Although Apple TV has covered many genres with its TV shows, its catalog of crime thrillers is especially interesting. One of the platform’s best crime thrillers to date is Presumed Innocent, created by David E. Kelly and starring Jake Gyllenhaal. Presumed Innocent was released in June 2024 and is based on Scott Turow’s 1987 novel of the same name, which was adapted into a movie in 1990 starring Harrison Ford.

Presumed Innocent currently holds a 79% critics’ score on Rotten Tomatoes, which has given it a “fresh” certification, along with a slightly lower popcornmeter score of 78%. Presumed Innocent has been praised for its twists, tone, and Gyllenhaal’s performance, and it was renewed for a second season before season 1 released its final episodes. However, Presumed Innocent is making a change in its second season and it’s becoming an anthology series, thus telling a new story.

Apple TV’s Presumed Innocent Season 2 Will Cover A Different Story

The first season of Presumed Innocent follows Rusty Sabich (Gyllenhaal), a prosecutor assigned to investigate the murder of his colleague, Carolyn Polhemus (Renate Reinsve). However, he ends up becoming the prime suspect as his affair with Carolyn comes to light. What follows is a suspenseful investigation as Sabich does his best to prove his innocence while facing his rival, Tommy Molto (Peter Sarsgaard), the prosecutor on the case.

As mentioned above, Presumed Innocent has some interesting twists as the investigation develops, keeping the audience engaged from beginning to end. While Rusty’s story could have been expanded in a second season, Presumed Innocent is going for an anthology format and is adapting a completely different story in season 2. This time, Presumed Innocent will be based on Jo Murray’s novel Dissection of a Murder, published on May 5, 2026, in the US.

Dissection of a Murder centers on Leila Reynolds, a lawyer on a high-profile murder case (the killing of a respected judge) on the defendant’s side. However, the defendant, Jack Millman, isn’t cooperating with information, which further complicates the case. On top of that, Leila’s husband is the prosecutor in this case. The confirmed cast of Presumed Innocent season 2 so far are Rachel Brosnahan, Jack Reynor, Matthew Rhys, Fiona Shaw, Courtney B. Vance, and Lesley-Ann Brandt.

At the time of writing, there’s no projected release date for Presumed Innocent season 2, but it entered production in December 2025, and by April 2026, it was still filming.

Presumed Innocent’s Anthology Format Can Keep It Going For Years

While exploring the aftermath of the investigation of Rusty’s case in season 1 would have certainly been interesting, changing into an anthology format is a wise decision for Presumed Innocent. Covering a different story in every season can keep Presumed Innocent fresh, and it makes it easier for its audience to come back, as well as reaching a wider audience with every story.

The key to Presumed Innocent as an anthology show will be its quality. Season 1 has been praised for its visual and narrative quality (though it does have its flaws), as well as its blend of legal thriller with family drama. These can be the basis of the show, giving it consistency even though each season is a standalone story. An anthology format can also keep the show going for years, as there are plenty of stories that fit the show’s style that can be adapted, and it can also explore original stories.

At the time of writing, Presumed Innocent has only been renewed for a second season, but if it has the same quality and reception as season 1, it won’t be surprising if Apple TV renews the show for a third season as quickly as it did with season 2.