According to Deadline, Netflix is developing a television adaptation of the 1979 legal drama “..And Justice for All,” the acclaimed courtroom film.
The project comes from Sony Pictures Television and arrives as the streamer prepares for the eventual conclusion of “The Lincoln Lawyer,” one of its most successful legal series.
Revisiting a Landmark Legal Drama
The new show is being written by Jeremy Miller and Dan Cohn, whose previous credits include “That Was Then.” Both will also serve as executive producers alongside “The Lincoln Lawyer” executive producer Ross Fineman. The adaptation is described as a gritty story centered on an idealistic attorney whose personal and professional life begins to unravel as he battles a deeply corrupt legal system.
The project draws inspiration from Norman Jewison‘s 1979 film, which starred Pacino as Baltimore defense attorney Arthur Kirkland. The original story followed Kirkland as he confronted a series of legal and ethical crises, including wrongful imprisonment, judicial misconduct, and a criminal justice system that repeatedly failed those it was meant to protect. As the pressure mounted, the attorney found himself increasingly disillusioned with the institutions he had devoted his career to serving.
Upon its release, “…And Justice for All” earned Academy Award nominations for Pacino’s performance and for the screenplay by Valerie Curtin and Barry Levinson. The title also featured a notable supporting cast that included Jack Warden, John Forsythe, Christine Lahti, Lee Strasberg, Jeffrey Tambor, and Craig T. Nelson.
The movie remains best known for its climactic courtroom sequence, in which Kirkland publicly denounces the legal system during a trial. The scene became one of the most recognizable moments in courtroom cinema and has been referenced and parodied across numerous television series and films in the decades since.
Netflix has not announced any casting decisions, production schedule, or release date for the adaptation. For now, the project remains in development as the streamer explores a new take on a legal drama that has retained its cultural relevance for nearly five decades.