Ruth Negga has been cast in “Presumed Innocent,” the upcoming limited series at Apple TV+ from David E. Kelley and J.J. Abrams. She is set to star opposite Jake Gyllenhaal, who is in final talks to lead the series.
based on Scott Turow’s 1987 novel of the same name, “Presumed Innocent” tells the story of a horrific murder that upends the Chicago Prosecuting Attorneys’ office when one of its own, Rusty Sabich (Gyllenhaal), 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.
Negga will play Rusty’s wife, Barbara Sabich. Barbara is an artist, gallerist and mother whose life is upended when her husband is accused of murdering his mistress. She fights for her family as she tends to her broken heart and broken marriage, and contends with her husband’s highly publicized trial.
Negga is best known for starring in the 2016 film “Loving” as Mildred Jeter Loving, one of the plaintiff’s in the 1967 Supreme Court case that legalized interracial marriage, and as Tulip O’Hare in AMC’s supernatural drama series “Preacher.” Other film and TV credits include “Warcraft,” “Criminal Justice,” “Misfits” and “Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.” Negga made her Broadway debut in “Macbeth” as Lady Macbeth, which earned her a Tony nomination. Up next, she will appear in Dan Levy’s directorial debut feature “Good Grief” on Netflix.
“Presumed Innocent” hails from Bad Robot Productions and David E. Kelley Productions in association with Warner Bros. Television, where Bad Robot is under an overall deal. Kelley serves as showrunner and executive produces for David E. Kelley Productions alongside Matthew Tinker. Also executive producing are Abrams and Rachel Rusch Rich for Bad Robot, Dustin Thomason, Sharr White and Gyllenhaal. Turow and Miki Johnson co-executive produce, and Anne Sewitsky will direct and executive produce the first two episodes.
