The little-guy-versus-the-system narrative might seem familiar to anyone who’s seen TV shows like Suits. And just like the cult classic Suits, The Rainmaker also airs on the USA Network, the channel trying to recapture the magic with its new legal series of noble ambulance chasers with immaculate haircuts. That’s not a coincidence. The network is calling on arguably the biggest name in the history of the legal genre, John Grisham.
This isn’t the first adaptation of the source material. Almost three decades prior, Francis Ford Coppola adapted the best-selling novel by lawyer-turned-novelist Grisham, a young Matt Damon starring as the southern lawyer Rudy Baylor. Though it has big shoes to fill to match the charm of Suits, it’s already looking like a great substitute for those of you wishing to fill the Gabriel Macht-sized gap in your life. The Rainmaker certainly has the pedigree: dense legal mumbo-jumbo made accessible thanks to Grisham’s ability to craft nuanced characters and grounded but compelling conflicts. This new show promises to humanize lawyers while not shying away from the grimy realities of the profession or legal system.
A Simple Premise Gets a Facelift in ‘The Rainmaker’
USA Network
This modern update stars John Slattery, P.J. Byrne, and Lana Parrilla, with Milo Callaghan in the Rudy Baylor role. Set in Tennessee, it bears many of the hallmarks of the Grisham canon, marking off a lot of the boxes on the checklist. While the plot isn’t anything remarkable, very reminiscent of the 1982 courtroom drama The Verdict, The Rainmaker puts a slightly different twist on the idea of a lone lawyer against impossible odds, even if it requires breaking the law to defend justice. One particular character never passed the bar exam, possibly inspiring the Mike Ross character from Suits.
The best series are often those with the most basic concepts, and no genre is so limited in scope as courtroom procedurals, paradoxically. Even Suits star Macht still can’t explain the show’s longevity and appeal. Taking advantage of the best-selling Grisham brand, The Rainmaker has a head start when it comes to differentiating itself from the crowd. We hate to reduce a writer’s output to mere tropes, but even the show markets itself as “based on a novel by John Grisham,” so if the shoe fits, who are we to argue? The new series has made some noticeable alterations. For one, the “Bruiser” Stone character was gender-swapped to change the dynamic. We’ll have to see what other changes have been made to the novel in the coming episodes, and how the plot shifts to sustain multiple seasons, but expect necessary digressions.
‘Rainmaker’ 2.0 Redo or Reprieve?
Paramount Pictures
Those with a good memory might recall that the 1997 Rainmaker was one of the earliest leading appearances of Matt Damon. The Francis Ford Coppola-directed film also stars Danny DeVito, Danny Glover, Mickey Rourke, Jon Voight, and Claire Danes. Damon, funny enough, wasn’t yet perceived as a leading man strong enough to carry a big-name movie, more like a prospect. And it was his casting that allowed the filmmakers to focus more on the excellent supporting cast around him. “The Rainmaker, unlike most Grisham films, doesn’t have to drag a high-paid superstar around and give him all the best lines,” critic Roger Ebert noted in his review. “DeVito’s role is in the fading tradition of the star character actor.” Incidentally, this is exactly the type of ensemble that television thrives on.
The book was a huge hit for Grisham, and the movie that followed was positively received. So why did this film disappear so completely? Unfortunately, it suffered from inevitable comparisons to the other Grisham southern-lawyer sagas, especially The Firm. Grisham’s work competed in its own category, to its detriment, compared and contrasted directly against other Grisham films. The 1993 Tom Cruise legal thriller was a box-office success, while The Rainmaker limped away, failing to break even, and was largely forgotten even by Coppola and Damon fans.
‘The Rainmaker’ Fights an Uphill Battle
CBS
’90s audiences were perhaps a little burnt out with Grisham thrillers, deluged by films like The Client, The Pelican Brief, and The Chamber. The timing is good for this new adaptation. Suits’ continued strong viewership and spin-offs hint there is still demand for smart shows focusing on the genre, albeit The Rainmaker should be far less humorous.
For those wondering, yes, Grisham books (too many to count at this juncture) and films have ventured their way to the small screen before, with mixed results. Most aired only a few seasons, including a brief Josh Lucas-led attempt to bring The Firm back to life in 2012, a sequel to the Tom Cruise suspense film. But the television format is fickle, the revival never finding an audience. Obviously, for those Grisham fans, or anyone in need of a legal drama, this is a no-brainer. But for those of you on the fence, we recommend checking out the 1997 movie first at the risk of potentially spoiling the show, if only to savor the spectacular cast. Watch The Rainmaker on USA starting August 15, also streaming on Peacock.
Release Date
August 15, 2025
Network
USA Network
-
Milo Callaghan
Rudy Baylor
-
Madison Iseman
Sarah Plankmore
-
Lana Parrilla
Jocelyn ‘Bruiser’ Stone
You can view the original article HERE.
