A while ago it looked as if COVID had sidelined plans for a televisions series based around Michael Connelly’s Lincoln Lawyer series of novels. Connelly had already had major success with an ongoing adaptation of his Bosch novels, with the Amazon Prime series of the same name due to go in to its seventh and final run later this year. CBS‘ plans for a series featuring Mickey Haller, the savvy lawyer who worked out of Lincoln car (hence the moniker) seemed like a shoe-in until the pandemic hit production schedules and budgets and it was decided they wouldn’t go forward.
Now it looks as if there’s a new verdict, with Netlflix picking up the project with David E. Kelley still set as showrunner. However there will be some changes on screen with the decision to cast The Magnificent Seven‘s Manuel Garcia-Rulfo as Mickey. The big-screen version of Haller had been famously essayed by Matthew McConaughey and the CBS version would have starred Logan Marshall-Green. The role of Mickey’s second ex-wife Lorna will also be recast.
“I’m excited to announce that after a bit of a journey, Mickey Haller will come to life once again on screen — this time in the TV series adaptation of The Lincoln Lawyer coming to Netflix and starring the wonderful and talented Manuel Garcia-Rulfo,” Connelly announced on his site. “Manuel is the ideal Mickey Haller, who is following in the footsteps of his attorney father with the showmanship of his Mexican movie star mother. He brings a powerful dynamic and dimension to the role — one that aligns with the books and brings authenticity to the Latinx heritage and roots of this Los Angeles-based story. The Lincoln Lawyer series will be adapted to serve up the complex and mysterious arcs fans know and love with a mix of light-hearted humor and a dose of family dynamics.”
