The Rainmaker (TV series)

A hotshot young lawyer is fired from his prestigious white-collar firm and signs on with a small-time ambulance chaser and her less-than-honest paralegal who work out of a converted former restaurant. He soon finds himself facing off against his former employer in court when he takes on a wrongful death suit involving an African American man who died while undergoing hospital care. == Cast ==

Main • Milo Callaghan as Rudy Baylor, a recently hired associate at J. Lyman Stone and Associates who got fired on his first day at Tinley Britt • Lana Parrilla as Jocelyn "Bruiser" Stone, a senior partner at the personal injury firm J. Lyman Stone and Associates • Madison Iseman as Sarah Plankmore, a first-year associate at Tinley Britt and Rudy's girlfriend and later, ex-girlfriend • P. J. Byrne as Deck Shifflet, a former insurance agent and paralegal at J. Lyman Stone and Associates who, despite possessing a Juris Doctor degree, failed the bar exam seven times • Dan Fogler as Melvin Pritcher, a nurse with dark intentions • Wade Briggs as Brad Noonan, a senior associate at Tinley Britt • Robyn Cara as Kelly Riker, Rudy's neighbor dealing with an abusive husband • John Slattery as Leo F. Drummond, a managing partner at Tinley Britt • Merle Dandridge as Amanda Vonn (season 2) Recurring • Karen Bryson as Dot Black, a grieving mother who is suing Great Benefit Hospital Systems for her son's wrongful death • Tommie Earl Jenkins as Prince Thomas, the owner of Yogi's Bar where Rudy works as a bartender • Ali White as Mary Baylor, Rudy's mother • Hugh Quarshie as Wilfred R. Keeley, the CEO of Great Benefit Hospital Systems who hires Tinley Britt to represent him • Jonathan Forbes as Rod Nunley, a lawyer who offers to represent Melvin • Gemma-Leah Devereux as Jackie Lemancyzk, a nurse who used to work alongside Melvin • Jonathan Harden as Agent Nick Cistulli • Austin Nichols (season 2) == Production ==

Development In 2018, it was reported that a television series adaptation of The Rainmaker was being developed by Michael Seitzman and Jason Richman for Hulu with ABC Studios. The series was slated to be one of the first in a larger shared universe based on the works of John Grisham, alongside an adaptation of his 2015 novel Rogue Lawyer; both series would have been produced concurrently and contain an intertwining storyline with shared characters, and would have been able to be watched on a parallel or standalone basis. Neither series went forward with Hulu. After signing a first-look deal with Blumhouse Television in 2021, Seitzman began developing The Rainmaker as a standalone project with the studio. Blumhouse would offer it to Lionsgate Television, and USA Network would order it to series in June 2024. It was reported that the series was considered part of a pivot by the channel back towards producing original dramas in the vein of its previous "blue sky" era. Casting On August 12, 2024, it was announced that John Slattery would star as Leo F. Drummond. Two days later, it was announced that Madison Iseman would star as Sarah Plankmore. On August 20, 2024, it was announced that Milo Callaghan would star as the leading role of Rudy Baylor. The next day, it was reported that Lana Parrilla would star as Jocelyn "Bruiser" Stone, and the following day, it was reported that P. J. Byrne would star as Deck Shifflet. On September 4, 2024, it was reported that Robyn Cara would star as Kelly Riker. On September 12, 2024, it was announced that Dan Fogler would star as Melvin Pritcher. On September 27, 2024, it was announced that Wade Briggs would star as Brad Noonan. On October 23, 2024, it was reported that Tommie Earl Jenkins would play Prince Thomas in a recurring role. On January 8, 2026, it was reported that Austin Nichols was cast in a recurring capacity for the second season. On March 9, 2026, it was announced Merle Dandridge joined the cast as a series regular for the second season. ==Episodes==

The series premiered on USA Network on August 15, 2025. In Canada, Bell Media confirmed that the series would air on its local version of USA Network. ==Reception==

On Rotten Tomatoes, the series holds an approval rating of 50% based on 22 critic reviews. The website's critics consensus reads, "Stripping John Grisham's novel of its flavor in favor of a more clichéd courtroom format, this Rainmaker adaptation only produces intermittent showers." Metacritic gave the series a weighted average score of 53 out of 100 based on 17 critics, indicating "mixed or average". == References ==