Chris Evans is on a mission to exonerate his young son in the first trailer for Defending Jacob, Apple TV Plus’ upcoming series based on William Landay’s 2012 novel. The series will follow Andy Barber (Evans), a district attorney whose 14-year-old son is accused of murdering a classmate. Jaeden Martell (It: Chapter One) will play the son, Jacob, and Downton Abbey‘s Michelle Dockery will play his wife Laurie. Cherry Jones and J.K. Simmons will also be there, so the cast is certainly up to snuff.
Evans hasn’t been on TV since 2000’s Opposite Sex and this represents his first real leading role after hanging up the Captain America shield last year, though he’s rumored to be in talks for a Little Shop of Horrors remake.
Apple TV’s attempt to become a major player in the streaming game has resulted in a few hits so far — most notably Kumail Nanjiani’s excellent anthology of real-life immigrant stories Little America. We’ll see if Defending Jacob is another jewel in the crown or not. It was created and written by War for the Planet of the Apes‘ Mark Bomback, so there’s certainly reason to be optimistic. The series will run for eight episodes and debut on April 24.
