Good news, legal drama fans! Usa Network is bringing back the John Grisham adaptation, 'The Rainmaker,' for another season of courtroom thrills and unexpected twists. Get ready for more Rudy Baylor in 2026!
TL;DR: The Quick Verdict on 'The Rainmaker' Season 2
- 'The Rainmaker' has officially been renewed for Season 2 by USA Network.
- Season 2 is slated to premiere sometime in 2026.
- The show was a massive hit, becoming USA's most-viewed freshman series in seven years and pulling in an average of 1.3 million viewers.
It's official: 'The Rainmaker' will be back for more! USA Network wasted no time, renewing the legal drama for a second season less than a week after its first season finale aired on October 17. And honestly, it's not a huge surprise when you look at the numbers!
This show truly hit a sweet spot with audiences. The first nine episodes alone averaged a solid 1.3 million viewers across all platforms, making it USA Network's most-viewed freshman series in seven years. Plus, the Season 1 finale was the most-watched episode of the entire season, showing that viewers were really invested right up to the end.
While critics were a bit divided (the show holds a 50% on Rotten Tomatoes), audiences absolutely loved it, giving it an impressive 82-86% score. That kind of viewer loyalty and consistent growth throughout the season made the renewal a no-brainer for the network. It also marks a welcome return to original scripted programming for USA, with another drama, 'Anna Pigeon,' also in the pipeline.
Val Boreland, President of Entertainment at Versant (USA Network's parent company), summed up the excitement perfectly:
"The verdict is in — ‘The Rainmaker’ is returning for season two on USA Network. Along with our brilliant showrunner Michael Seitzman and our partners at Lionsgate and Blumhouse, we’re thrilled to build on the momentum and deliver another compelling chapter of this gripping legal drama for our viewers."
— Val Boreland, President, Entertainment, Versant
Get ready for more legal drama! USA Network has officially renewed 'The Rainmaker' for Season 2, set to premiere in 2026. Discover why the John Grisham adaptation became a breakout hit and what the cast and creator envision for the next chapter. Find out where to stream Season 1 now!
What Went Down in Season 1: A Deep Dive into Rudy's First Big Case (Spoilers Ahead!)
For those who need a refresher or want to catch up before Season 2, 'The Rainmaker' is based on the John Grisham novel of the same name. It follows Rudy Baylor (played by Milo Callaghan), a wide-eyed lawyer fresh out of law school. He quickly finds himself in a high-stakes battle against the formidable courtroom veteran Leo Drummond (John Slattery) and even his law school ex-girlfriend, Sarah Plankmore (Madison Iseman), who works for Leo's firm.
Rudy, alongside his charismatic but unconventional boss Bruiser (Lana Parrilla) and her disheveled paralegal Deck Shifflet (P.J. Byrne), dives into a complex case. They're trying to uncover two interconnected conspiracies surrounding the mysterious death of their client's son at the hands of a healthcare corporation. The first season was packed with non-stop twists, including a serial killer on the loose and courtroom revelations that kept everyone on the edge of their seats.
Now, a quick heads-up: if you haven't seen the Season 1 finale, stop reading here if you want to avoid spoilers! The show took a different turn from the book and the 1997 movie in a significant way: Rudy's client, Dot Black (Karen Bryson), actually received her massive multi-million dollar verdict! Showrunner Michael Seitzman explained this change, feeling that after 10 episodes, the audience deserved a real reward for rooting for the characters.
The finale also saw some intense personal consequences. Brad Noonan (Wade Briggs), who did some of Leo's dirty work, ended up in prison, only to find himself sharing space with none other than Melvin Pritcher (Dan Fogler), the serial killer from the case! Talk about an awkward reunion. Sarah Plankmore, Rudy's ex, fully embraced a morally gray path, prioritizing her own future even if it meant letting Brad take the fall for others' actions. And in a heartwarming moment, Rudy, having come into his own, passed on his lucky coin to Deck, who decided to give the bar exam another shot.
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Who's Expected to Return and What They're Hoping For in Season 2 of the Legal Drama
While an official full cast list for Season 2 hasn't been announced, we can definitely expect the core team to return. Michael Seitzman is back as showrunner, with John Grisham continuing as an executive producer. Viewers can likely look forward to seeing:
- Milo Callaghan as Rudy Baylor
- John Slattery as Leo Drummond
- Lana Parrilla as Jocelyn "Bruiser" Stone
- Madison Iseman as Sarah Plankmore
- P.J. Byrne as Deck Shifflet
- Dan Fogler as Melvin Pritcher
- Wade Briggs as Brad Noonan
- Robyn Cara in an unconfirmed role for Season 2 (she was part of the Season 1 main cast)
Showrunner Michael Seitzman has been open about still figuring out the exact direction for Season 2. He's pondering whether to "completely wipe the slate clean" with new characters, or bring back the beloved Season 1 cast members. He admitted it's a "tricky thing" because he loves the characters and the actors who played them, especially after their bonding experience filming in Dublin.
The cast, however, is more than ready! Milo Callaghan (Rudy) is enthusiastically on board, stating, "I'm here for seven seasons, so let's go!" P.J. Byrne (Deck) hopes Bruiser's firm, now with "a little jingle in our pocket," will take on "bigger, badder humans." Lana Parrilla (Bruiser) is keen to delve deeper into her character's personal life, particularly her "relationship with men."
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Peeking Into the Future: Potential Storylines and Fresh Cases for the Next Chapter
Since Season 1 covered the entirety of John Grisham's novel, Season 2 of 'The Rainmaker' will be charting its own course, which opens up a world of possibilities! We'll likely see Rudy continue to grow from a fresh-faced lawyer into a seasoned litigator, perhaps taking on new, complex cases with Bruiser and Deck.
A big question mark hangs over Deck's head: will he finally pass the bar exam? P.J. Byrne's hope for his character suggests it won't be easy, but if he does, it could add an exciting new dynamic to the firm. We might also see more of Leo Drummond's story unfold, especially with him facing an FBI investigation at the end of Season 1. John Slattery thinks Leo will do "his damndest to stay out of jail," so that could be a thrilling legal battle in itself.
And what about Rudy and Sarah? Their relationship is complicated, to say the least. While Milo Callaghan believes Rudy still deeply loves Sarah, Madison Iseman thinks their "hard-headed" natures might prevent a healthy romantic reconciliation. Seitzman weighed in, suggesting Sarah would need to make a "big turn" morally for Rudy to take her back. The potential for continued personal drama alongside the legal battles is certainly high!
With Bruiser now fully in charge of her firm after her father's departure (which Lana Parrilla notes her character is "100% yes" secretly happy about), we can expect her to continue to be a force, possibly taking the firm to new heights and tackling more challenging adversaries.
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Catch Up Before Season 2 Drops: Where to Stream The Rainmaker Today
If you're eager to refresh your memory or dive into the world of 'The Rainmaker' for the first time, you're in luck! All episodes of Season 1 are available to stream right now on Peacock. The series has even been a top 10 performer on the streaming service, showing just how much people are enjoying this gripping legal drama.
It's worth noting that this TV series isn't the first adaptation of Grisham's novel. There was also a highly regarded 1997 movie version directed by Francis Ford Coppola and starring Matt Damon and Danny DeVito, which scored an impressive 82% with critics on Rotten Tomatoes. While that film isn't currently streaming anywhere, the growing popularity of the TV show might just prompt its return to a streaming platform soon.
So, clear your schedules and get ready to binge, because 'The Rainmaker' is here to stay, and its second season in 2026 promises even more legal fireworks!
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Frequently Asked Questions About 'The Rainmaker' Season 2
Sources
- Variety
- Deadline
- Collider
- TV Insider
- Dark Horizons