Jake Gyllenhaal served as the lead of a compelling 8-part legal thriller on Apple TV, which is arguably far better than most of his movies from recent years. Given his impressive and diverse line of work on the big screen, it is often argued that Jake Gyllenhaal is one of the most underrated stars of our time. Regardless of the overall quality of the movie or show he is starring in, Gyllenhaal instantly elevates it with his performance.
Even after all these years, it is almost surprising that Gyllenhaal did not even get an Academy Award nomination for his chilling portrayal of the protagonist in 2014’s Nightcrawler. Movies like Prisoners also put Gyllenhaal’s acting forte on full display, highlighting his incredible range and ability to portray morally complex characters.
Speaking of Gyllenhaal’s morally complex characters, he got to play one in Apple TV’s Presumed Innocent as well. Based on the 1987 novel of the same name by Scott Turow, the show serves as a remake of a 1990 movie starring Harrison Ford. Unlike most remakes, the show proved to be better than its predecessor and remains one of Gyllenhaal’s best works from recent years.
Apple TV’s Presumed Innocent Is Way Better Than Most Of Jake Gyllenhaal’s Recent Movies
Jake Gyllenhaal is mostly known for his work in big-screen projects. Even in recent years, he has primarily starred in several mainstream movies, like The Bride, In The Grey, and The Covenant. He also played the lead in the 2024 remake of Road House. As always, Gyllenhaal delivered incredible performances in all of these movies.
However, a closer look at almost all of them reveals how they did not utilize his full potential as an actor.
The Bride struggled to leave its mark at the box office and even received a mixed response from viewers and critics. Similarly, In The Grey boasted a star-studded cast and featured Gyllenhaal alongside Henry Cavill. Despite this, it was neither critically nor commercially successful.
The Road House remake proved to be a massive hit on Prime Video and is being followed up with a sequel. However, it seems to limit Jake Gyllenhaal by giving him a more action-centric role with limited room for dramatic complexity.
Compared to almost all of these movies, Apple TV’s Presumed Innocent has arguably been far more successful at leveraging Jake Gyllenhaal’s acting forte. Gyllenhaal is widely known for playing extremely troubled characters who often struggle with their morality. His Presumed Innocent character, Rusty, is no different as he finds himself trapped between guilt, obsession, and the unconditional love for his family.
Presumed Innocent is, by no means, a perfect series. However, the brilliance with which it elevates its source material and its previous movie adaptation makes its flaws easy to overlook. The show’s well-timed twists and compelling mysteries are enough to keep one hooked throughout its runtime.
However, it is Jake Gyllenhaal’s incredible performance that truly drives the show’s drama and immerses viewers in the world of a man who hopes to do the right thing but almost always falls short of following a morally righteous path.
Why Jake Gyllenhaal Isn’t Returning In Presumed Innocent Season 2
Interestingly, even though Gyllenhaal’s performance was one of the biggest reasons behind Presumed Innocent season 1’s success, he is not reprising his role as Rusty in the show’s season 2. This makes sense since Rusty’s story seemed well-rounded and conclusive towards Presumed Innocent season 1’s ending.
Instead of continuing Rusty’s story, Presumed Innocent is taking an anthology route where its next season will adopt a completely new narrative. It will feature a whole new set of characters and adapt Jo Murray’s Dissection of a Murder. The original Apple TV show’s cast will be led by Rachel Brosnahan of The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel and Superman fame.
Other big names, like Matthew Rhys and Fiona Shaw, are also tied to Presumed Innocent season 2. Jake Gyllenhaal‘s absence will likely be felt in the series’ season 2. However, its cast is still no less promising. If all goes well for the Apple TV series, its second season could pave the way for it to become the next True Detective, where more follow-ups could cover more standalone legal thriller stories.