William Landay: Last News

Chris Evans sat down for an interview with the Hollywood Foreign Press’ “HFPA In Conversation” podcast, discussing his recent segue from playing Captain America in the Marvel Cinematic Universe to his more recent role in “Defending Jacob”, a limited series for Apple TV+.

A Massachusetts couple's life is turned upside down by the possibility that their son Jacob is actually a murderer, forcing them to confront the limits of what they'd do to protect their family or learn the truth. That's the plot of Rosellen Brown's novel Before and After (and its underwhelming film adaptation).

The worst thing about Apple TV+'s new limited series Defending Jacob is that it feels like every other crime series we've seen before. The show, created by Mark Bomback and based on the book of the same name by William Landay, has all the hallmarks of a murder investigation, right down to the media frenzy, dramatic outbursts, and the uncomfortably quiet moments in which characters consider if it's possible the person they thought they knew was actually capable of the crime of which they're accused. It is not a terrible show, but without adding anything new to the genre — the fact the main suspect is a teen is as close as it gets — it's also hard to classify it as good.

Chris Evans is truly shedding his Captain America avatar by taking one gritty role after another. After playing the flamboyant menace in 2019's hit movie, Knives Out, Chris is back with a bang! This time, the Avengers: Endgame star plays Andy Barber, an assistant district attorney in Defending Jacob, an Apple TV miniseries. Defending Jacob is based on William Landay's 2012 book and will see Evans reunite with his Knives Out co-star Jaeden Martell. Moreover, Defending Jacob also stars Michelle Dockery, Cherry Jones, Pablo Schreiber, Sakina Jaffrey, Betty Gabriel and J.K. Simmons.

Apple TV+ is trying to make you forget you haven't left the house in 10 days or taken a shower in at least four by finally releasing the first trailer for its newest series, Defending Jacob, which stars Chris Evans and Michelle Dockery.

Apple TV+ is trying to make you forget you haven't left the house in 10 days or taken a shower in at least four by finally releasing the first trailer for its newest series, Defending Jacob, which stars Chris Evans and Michelle Dockery.

When Celeste Ng learned her novel Little Fires Everywhere would be adapted into a limited series for Hulu, she made a decision to let go. Instead of holding on to the story that lived in the pages she'd written, she recognized that translating the novel for television would require her to put her trust in other people.

Pete Hammond Awards Columnist/Chief Film CriticDefending Jacob creator, executive producer and showrunner Mark Bomback appeared as part of Apple TV+’s session at Deadline’s Contenders Television livestream panel and revealed that his eight-hour limited-series adaptation of William Landay’s novel was originally meant to be a two-hour movie instead of a longform TV show.He said that since studios weren’t looking for this kind of material much anymore, he decided instead to tackle the book for TV — a first for this prolific screenwriter behind such blockbusters as the recent Planet of the Apes franchise.Bomback was joined in the show, and on this panel, by Oscar-nominated director Morten Tyldum and actor Jaeden Martell.

By Danielle Turchiano