Apple TV+’s legal thriller Presumed Innocent will now compete in the Limited or Anthology Series category at the 2025 Emmy Awards, a shift officially approved by the TV Academy, according to sources.
Originally submitted as a drama series for the Golden Globes and SAG Awards, Presumed Innocent garnered critical acclaim, with Jake Gyllenhaal receiving a Golden Globe nomination for Best Performance by a Male Actor in a Television Series, Drama. Despite its drama category placement in early award season predictions, the series’ shift reflects its evolution over recent months.
The initial concept for Presumed Innocent was that of a limited series, based on Scott Turow’s bestselling novel, with no plans for a second season. However, following the success of its first installment, Apple TV+ greenlit a second season. The new direction mirrored The White Lotus, which reinvented itself with each season through a fresh story and mostly new cast, while maintaining some returning characters for continuity.
When the series was first submitted for award consideration, it was done so as a drama series, reflecting The White Lotus’s transition from limited to drama series after its inaugural season. However, as the storyline diverged from Turow’s original novel with the acquisition of new source material, the classification was reconsidered.
Season 2 of Presumed Innocent will adapt Dissection of a Murder, a legal thriller by Jo Murray, marking a departure from the first season’s narrative. The new story will follow attorney Leila Reynolds, with a completely new cast, as production continues.
The decision to label Presumed Innocent as a limited series aligns with Emmy Awards’ guidelines, which stipulate that such shows must resolve their story arc within a single season, without ongoing storylines or main characters in future seasons.
The first season of Presumed Innocent, starring Gyllenhaal as chief deputy prosecutor Rusty Sabich, revolves around a high-profile murder that rocks the Chicago Prosecuting Attorney’s office when one of its own is accused of the crime. The ensemble cast includes Ruth Negga, nominated for Best Supporting Performance at the Film Independent Spirit Awards, along with Bill Camp, Elizabeth Marvel, Peter Sarsgaard, O-T Fagbenle, and Renate Reinsve.
The show is produced by Bad Robot Productions and David E. Kelley Productions in collaboration with Warner Bros. Television, with executive producers including David E. Kelley, J.J. Abrams, Jake Gyllenhaal, Rachel Rusch Rich, Dustin Thomason, Matt Tinker, Anne Sewitsky, Greg Yaitaines, and Sharr White. Scott Turow and Miki Johnson also serve as co-executive producers.
While the shift to the Limited Series category will be reflected in most major award races, the Writers Guild of America (WGA) follows its own guidelines. Presumed Innocent received a WGA Award nomination for Limited Series earlier this year, with The White Lotus taking home the award in 2023. The guild continues to recognize The White Lotus as a limited series despite its transition to drama in other major award circuits.
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