Presumed Innocent Season 2 is happening but may not adapt the second novel

Before we got to the end of Presumed Innocent Season 1, Apple TV+ confirmed that the limited series would end up with a second season after all. That’s right; it’s another limited series turned drama series.

Of course, before getting to the end, many fans suspected that the second season would follow the second novel. Why not follow the events of the second part of some source material?

That is all set to change, now. The Presumed Innocent Season 1 finale ended in a way that sets up for a very different storyline.

What could Presumed Innocent Season 2 follow instead?

In the first book (and the movie), Rusty learns that Barbara was the one to kill Carolyn. Barbara found out that her husband was having an affair, and she killed out of revenge. She got away with it, as well. Rusty decided that he couldn’t go after his wife when their son needed her around.

The first season ended with the big reveal that Rusty thought his wife was the killer, only to find out that his daughter was instead. The clues were always there, but we refused to see them until the end. On top of that, his son, Kyle, was also at the house before Carolyn was murdered.

Is it possible that the second season will see Jaden face a trial for murder? Could there be something that Kyle did that puts him in the firing line? There could even be someone from Carolyn’s life coming for answers, similar to the way Big Little Lies was able to keep going after it wrapped the book storyline in the first season.

This is all unlikely. The second season is set to feature new characters and a new murder mystery.

What is the storyline of Presumed Innocent Book 2?

Why can’t the series follow the book storyline? Well, part of it comes down to the fact that the murderer has changed.

There are other reasons, though. I did doubt that Presumed Innocent Season 2 would follow the second book based on the fact that the second book is set years later. Rusty’s wife, Barbara, has died. It’s likely that the death was natural, but Rusty faces accusations of murder again.

There’s also the fact that Screen Rant confirms that Presumed Innocent Season 2 will focus on new characters and a new murder. It looks like the series is going the anthology route, which is something I can definitely get behind. I love anthologies.