‘The Rainmaker’ Series Preview: Who’s In It, What’s It About, and When Does It Air

John Grisham’s bestselling novel The Rainmaker was adapted into a feature film in 1997, directed by Francis Ford Coppola and starring Matt Damon. Now, 30 years after it was first published, Grisham’s novel is adapted into a series set to premiere on USA Network on August 15, 2025 at 10pm ET/PT.

Milo Callaghan (Rivals) stars as Rudy Baylor, John Slattery (The Good Fight) plays Leo Drummond, Lana Parrilla (Once Upon a Time) is Jocelyn “Bruiser” Stone, and Madison Iseman (Witchboard) is Sarah Plankmore. P.J. Byrne (Dear Santa) plays Deck Shifflet, Dan Fogler (A Complete Unknown) stars as Melvin Pritcher, Wade Briggs (Foundation) is Brad Noonan, and Robyn Cara (Bodkin) is Kelly Riker.

“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,” reads USA Network’s synopsis. “Rudy, along with his boss, Bruiser, and her disheveled paralegal, Deck, uncover two connected conspiracies surrounding the mysterious death of their client’s son.”

USA Network released this description of the series’ first episode: “Rudy Baylor and girlfriend Sarah Plankmore are thrilled to be starting at top law firm Tinley Britt. When Rudy’s first day spirals out of control and forces him to take a job at the less reputable J. Lyman Stone, they end up on opposite sides of an important wrongful death case involving Leo Drummond’s most important client.”

Michael Seitzman guides the 10-episode first season as showrunner, writer, and executive producer. Additional executive producers include John Grisham, Jason Richman, David Gernert, and Jason Blum.

Commenting on the series, Seitzman said, “The Rainmaker began as John Grisham’s fastest-selling novel, then became a feature film, and now, it’s a TV series. What is it about this story that keeps drawing people in? Maybe it’s the David-and-Goliath legal thriller, the dangerous romance, or the coming-of-age story. For me, above all, it’s the characters. They jumped off the page in John’s book and were a joy to expand upon in our show. Not to mention, Milo Callaghan, who plays Rudy Baylor, is your next crush.”