The Apple TV+ streaming service continues to add to its ever-growing catalog of original series with Defending Jacob, an upcoming "character-driven thriller" that stars Chris Evans and is set for an April release. Evans most recently appeared in Rian Johnson's universally lauded mystery thriller Knives Out, a film that helped to re-acclimate the actor to a world outside of the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
The push for new content on Apple TV+ has been fast and furious. Although the streaming service launched in November, 2019, it struggled to gain traction in a media landscape that's long been dominated by the likes of Netflix, HBO, and Amazon Prime Video. Apple understood that the best way to bring audiences over from other streaming services was to develop and host worthwhile content. To do this, Apple sought out the services of recognized stars and acclaimed writers and directors, but those efforts misfired at launch as their two flagship shows The Morning Show and See both received mixed reviews.
Defending Jacob, a television adaptation of the 2012 book of the same name, is set to launch on Apple TV+ on April 24, with new episodes premiering weekly thereafter every Friday. The story follows a criminal investigation in which, according to a press release, assistant district attorney Andy Barber (Chris Evans) "finds himself torn between his sworn duty to uphold justice, and his unconditional love for his son." The rest of the cast includes Michelle Dockery, Jaeden Martell and J.K. Simmons who guest stars in an undefined role.
Mark Bomback (Total Recall, Dawn of the Planet of the Apes) serves as the creator, writer, executive producer and showrunner of the TV adaptation of Defending Jacob, while Morten Tyldum (Headhunters, The Imitation Game) will direct. Defending Jacob takes place in Newton, Massachusetts, a city not far from Chris Evans' hometown of Sudbury. Evans has been outspoken in the past about his love for Boston and the surrounding areas, and not long ago he praised a group of MIT students for their ambitious Captain America prank.
Apple TV+ could really use a blockbuster hit to get things started. The anthology series Little America has received exceptional reviews which is certainly a step in the right direction, but it will take more than that to get the hyped streaming service into the same tier as Netflix and Amazon Prime Video. There's certainly no lack of content coming to Apple TV+ though, as the company has already renewed Dickinson, See & For All Mankind for second seasons, as well as ordered dozens of more projects including the Sci-Fi epic Foundation. Perhaps Defending Jacob will be the next engrossing television crime-drama, it certainly seems to be set to succeed when it launches on Apple TV+ April 24, 2020.
Source: Apple