HBO will be solving more cases with Perry Mason. The cable network has renewed the drama for a second season ahead of its freshman season finale.
HBO had originally billed Perry Mason as a miniseries but this new adaptation has drawn favorable reviews and solid ratings for HBO. The first episode, per HBO, has already reached 8 million viewers. HBO programming EVP Francesca Orsi had this to say about the season 2 renewal:
It has been an exciting journey to work with the immensely talented team behind Perry Mason. Viewers have relished being transported back in time to 1930’s Los Angeles each week, and we are thrilled to welcome the show back for a second season."
The arrival of Perry Mason coincided with the launch of HBO Max and the new streaming service has only given viewers another avenue to catch up on the series. The series, which stars Matthew Rhys in the title role, is based on the character from the Erle Stanley Gardner novels although it takes place before Mason becomes the defense attorney made familiar by the 1957-66 CBS series. This version of Mason, a Los Angeles noir, is a low-rent private investigator haunted by his wartime experience in France and suffering from a broken marriage. The show also stars Juliet Rylance, Chris Chalk, Shea Whigham, Tatiana Maslany, and John Lithgow.
The series is executive produced by Amanda Burrell, Robert Downey Jr., Susan Downey, Ron Fitzgerald, Joe Horacek, Rolin Jones, and Timothy Van Patten. Apparently this concept had a long road to make it to air and originally began as a feature film project for Robert Downey Jr. before moving over to becoming a television project. Looks like this incarnation finally paid off for all involved.
Have YOU been watching Perry Mason? Excited to see it come back for season 2?