The Rainmaker trailer dropping yesterday.

Telling the story in long form will present a number of changes that will make the show stand out from the movie and will provide the opportunity for more in-depth storytelling and plot arcs. However, there is one tonal change in particular that is set to differentiate The Rainmaker TV show from its big-screen predecessor, and much of this has to do with the involvement of Blumhouse, the production company set to co-produce the John Slattery and Milo Callaghan-led project.

Blumhouse Co-Producing USA's Rainmaker TV Show Could Hint It Will Embrace More Thriller Aspects

The Show Should Be Darker & More Nail-Biting Than The Movie's Standard Legal Drama

The involvement of Blumhouse, typically known for their successful horror movies like Sinister, The Black Phone, Happy Death Day, and The Purge, suggests the show will lean into darker themes that align with a thriller rather than a conventional drama. The original movie was very much a courtroom drama, but it seems the show is set to try to balance legal drama with its thriller elements. The trailer, as well as the show's official synopsis, suggests this is the direction the series will look to take as well:

"Based on the best-selling novel by John Grisham, Rudy Baylor, who is fresh out of law school, goes head-to-head with courtroom lion Leo Drummond as well as his law school girlfriend, Sarah. Rudy, along with his boss, Bruiser, and her disheveled paralegal, Deck, uncover two connected conspiracies surrounding the mysterious death of their client’s son."

The show's trailer also suggests the thriller angle will be prominent, and The Rainmaker may function as a courtroom drama, murder mystery, and legal thriller all rolled into one. The Lincoln Lawyer TV adaptation is a good example of a long-form legal drama that has managed to tread the thriller line on occasion, and The Rainmaker may have taken inspiration from the Netflix show.

The Rainmaker Could Be A Big Off-Season Hit For USA

The Show Has The Ingredients To Be A Success On The Network

Following the successful performance of Suits (another USA Network scripted show) on Netflix, the network will make a return to scripted shows with The Rainmaker, and the potential is huge. This is a show based on one of Grisham's most iconic novels, with a strong and diverse cast in place and a longer run to weave the narrative arc that the plot requires for success. There are also plenty of opportunities to experiment with different genres and tonalities throughout the show's first season run.

The ingredients are all in place to make The Rainmaker an off-season hit for USA, and a lack of competition, combined with the success of recent legal shows like The Lincoln Lawyer, give it a good chance. The Rainmaker's release date is set for August 15 at 10 p.m. on USA Network and will be available to stream a week later on Peacock. If the show can bridge genres, weave a compelling plot, and deliver interesting and layered characters, USA Network could have another hit on its hands.

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