Summary
The upcoming legal thriller TV showThe Rainmakerhas added a star fromThe Lincoln Lawyeras a series regular, as the USA Network series continues to take shape.Based on the John Grisham novelof the same name, the story follows law school graduate Rudy Baylor as he uncovers a vast conspiracy surrounding a client’s son, working with a team of other legal experts in the process. The book is best known for its theatrical adaptation in 1997, starring Matt Damon as Rudy and directed by Francis Ford Coppola.
Now,Deadlinereports thatThe Rainmakeris adding Lana Parrilla to the cast, the actor best known for her role as Lisa Trammell in Netflix’sThe Lincoln Lawyer.Parrilla will portray Jocelyn “Bruiser” Stone, who runs the law firm that hires Rudy in the novel. In this rendition of the story, J. Lyman Stone is her father, a character who holds the same role she does in the original story and the 1997 film adaptation.
The Rainmaker TV Show Adaptation Is Finally Starting To Take Shape
How Will It Compare To The 1997 Movie?
WhileThe Rainmakeris considered one ofMatt Damon’s best movies,the TV series is already shaping up to be a modernized adaptation with plenty of elements that will make it stand out.Rudy will be portrayed by Milo Callaghan, best known for his role as Alan K. Sullivan inDoctor Whoseason 14. Other cast members of the USA Network reimagining include John Slattery (Mad Men) as rival lawyer Leo Drummond, and Madison Iseman (Annabelle Comes Home) as his law school girlfriend Sarah Plankmore.
In addition to those onscreen, Grisham will be serving as executive producer behind the scenes, alongside Jason Blum of Blumhouse and David Gernert.Michael Seitzman (Quantico) will be serving as showrunner, also co-writing the pilot with Jason Richman (The Walking Dead: Daryl Dixon). With the series already having a full order, it appears plenty of faith is being put in the creatives behind it. Given their positive track records in the entertainment industry, it seems like they’ll be able to bring the author’s book to life in an all-new way.
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With Parrilla having joined the cast ofThe Rainmaker, it seems like there will be plenty of talent onscreen as more characters from the novel get their respective TV counterparts announced. While it’s unclear if the show will hold a candle to Coppola’s film adaptation, the right moving parts are there for a strong comparison between the two once the series begins. Since there’s still plenty of information left to be announced, it remains to be seen when the show will arrive, and how it will bring the novel to life once more.
Girsham’s latest adaptation was 2018’sThe Innocent Man, a documentary based on his true crime bookThe Innocent Man: Murder and Injustice in a Small Town.
How The Rainmaker TV Show Is Already Different From The Movie
The Series Can Expand On Grisham’s Original Work
The level of talent behind the TV series already proves the show will be very different from Coppola’s film adaptation, regardless of the comparative quality between the two. Since this new rendition will be a show instead of a movie,The Rainmakerhas a chance to bolster its story with more detail in contrast to the original.The fact Parrilla is joining from thecast ofThe Lincoln Lawyermeans the series could even pull inspiration from the Netflix series, crafting a more complex narrative while maintaining focus on the central case.
WhileThe Rainmakeris a standalone story, the TV show also has a chance to expand on its world through different character perspectives across many episodes.This could also lead to Rudy and the firm tackling more cases than the one central to the book, making the series even more broad than the novel or film could cover. By retelling the story in a TV format, it can embody different ideas that couldn’t be explored in the two mediums it’s previously been in. New perspectives could be what makes the series stand out.
Who Else Needs To Be Cast In The Rainmaker Show?
Important Characters Have Yet To Be Revealed
Since casting news is still coming out about the show as of writing, there are plenty of characters yet to be revealed for the series. This includes paralegal Deck Shifflet, played by Danny DeVito in the movie, and Rudy’s first client Dot Black, previously portrayed by Mary Kay Place. Since these characters are critical parts of the book and movie, news about their casting will no doubt be revealed as the USA Network show continues to take shape. Some may even be remixed as Bruiser will be thanks to Parrilla’s casting.
With the latest news a strong sign ofThe Rainmaker’s continued development,it appears there will be plenty to look forward to that’s new and unique in the upcoming adaptation.While comparisons to the movie and book will no doubt be abundant when the show premieres, its casting shows how much it will stand out in contrast to the source material and previous film adaptation. As more casting news becomes available, a better image of the forthcoming series is bound to take shape.
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