New Legal Thriller Replacing How To Get Away With Murder Debuts This Fall

If you’ve been yearning for a gripping legal drama since ‘How to Get Away with Murder‘ concluded, I recommend checking out the next engaging show on your list. This new series will premiere on ABC in September 2014 and run until May 2020. The show features the talented Viola Davis as Annalise Keating, a defense attorney and law professor at a prestigious institution. Intriguingly, Keating often found herself involved in covering up the misdeeds of her students, known as the Keating Five, and their companions.

The popular legal thriller series “How to Get Away with Murder” concluded after six seasons, as creator Peter Nowalk and producer Shonda Rhimes felt it was an appropriate time to wrap up the storyline. Despite being a highly-rated show for ABC, the series finale provided a satisfying conclusion to Annalise Keating’s journey. With another courtroom drama set to debut soon, it appears well-prepared to take over the void left by “HTGAWM.

USA’s The Rainmaker Series Is A Legal Thriller & Courtroom Drama

It Debuts In August

A spin-off of the well-known John Grisham novel, earlier adapted into Francis Ford Coppola’s 1997 movie starring Matt Damon, titled “The Rainmaker,” is being developed for television by executive producer Michael Seitzman and Blumhouse Television. The character of Rudy Baylor, previously played by Rivals actor Milo Callaghan, finds himself going up against a renowned attorney and his former law school girlfriend in the series.

From the preview of “The Rainmaker”, it’s clear that Rudy has a past with Leo Drummond, who is portrayed by John Slattery from “Mad Men”. Earlier, Rudy had worked under Drummond but was let go. This earlier professional disappointment now puts him at odds with Drummond and his ex-partner Sarah Plankmore (Madison Iseman from “Jumanji: The Next Level”) in the courtroom.

In “The Rainmaker,” a segment of USA Network delves deep into legal drama, complete with high personal stakes. However, it also subtly introduces suspenseful elements as Rudy, joined by his boss Jocelyn “Bruiser” Stone (previously seen in “The Lincoln Lawyer” with Lana Parrilla) and her unkempt paralegal, uncover two intertwined conspiracies. These conspiracies heighten the enigma surrounding the deceased son of their client, echoing the pervasive feeling of suspicion and fear reminiscent of “How to Get Away with Murder” over its six-season run.

How To Get Away With Murder Leaned Heavily Into The Thriller Genre

Those Flashforwards Were Intense

The show “How to Get Away with Murder” maintained its appeal across multiple seasons by frequently changing its guest cast and adopting a storyline structure that kept viewers intrigued. Each season would open with an intense, chaotic flash-forward hinting at a murder, followed by flashbacks revealing the events leading up to the central murder of the season. Annalise, the protagonist, was often seen helping her preferred students evade blame for their actions.

The ABC show primarily focused on standalone cases, with Annalise acquiring new clients and students utilizing their diverse abilities to assist. However, these separate narratives largely fit within the broader category of a progressively ominous thriller. With each death, the bond between Annalise and the Keating Five deteriorated and became increasingly toxic.

This could potentially align to some extent with the initial impression of “The Rainmaker” as a playful legal comedy. Similarly, “How to Get Away with Murder (HTGAWM)” started off lightheartedly, featuring Davis’ memorable line about a dead girl’s phone. However, as the series advanced and the number of losses increased, Shonda Rhimes’ production from Shondaland began to lean more heavily into its darker, thriller aspects.

Both Shows Also Deal With Brand-New Lawyers Learning The Job

The Show Provided Several Young Actors With Breakout Roles

In “The Rainmaker,” we find two aspiring lawyers facing a critical trial, mirroring the “How to Get Away with Murder” series where the Keating Five were on-the-job trainees under Annalise. Although their relationship with her was complex, they gained valuable insights from her. This dynamic seems to be recreated on USA Network, as Rudy works closely with his supervisor, and Sarah learns directly from Leo Drummond.

Regarding the cast of “The Rainmaker,” while Callaghan and Iseman had previous acting credits before portraying Rudy and Sarah, this legal thriller could potentially be their breakout role. Similarly, “How to Get Away with Murder” provided a platform for emerging talents like Alfred Enoch, Jack Falahee, Aja Naomi King, Matt McGorry, Karla Souza, Conrad Ricamora, and Rome Flynn by pairing them with established actors on screen.

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2025-06-05 22:57