Rainmaker debuts on USA Network as a 10-episode Grisham adaptation

The Rainmaker debuts on USA Network on Friday as a 10-episode television adaptation of John Grisham’s legal thriller, reimagining the courtroom saga for serialized TV. Led by Milo Callaghan as Rudy Baylor and John Slattery as Leo F. Drummond, the series expands the tale beyond its predecessor with new characters, altered plotlines, and a longer arc that promises to explore the human cost of big-case justice while pacing courtroom drama across a full season.

At the center of the new series is Rudy Baylor, a freshly minted law graduate who signs on with a pair of ambitious lawyers facing down powerful interests. The antagonistic leverage comes from Leo Drummond, a formidable attorney played by Slattery, whose courtroom prowess contrasts with Baylor’s idealism. Lana Parrilla’s Jocelyn “Bruiser” Stone—recast from the male figure in the original book and film—teams with Baylor, while Madison Iseman plays his on-screen partner Sarah Plankmore. The series introduces a slate of supporting characters, including Deck Shifflet (P.J. Byrne) and Melvin Pritcher (Dan Fogler), whose roles broaden the landscape of the case and its personal stakes.

The creators have underscored that this...