Perry Mason (HBO) - S: Matthew Rhys - premieres 6/21/20
#1
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Perry Mason (HBO) - S: Matthew Rhys - premieres 6/21/20
Matthew Rhys is going from stealing America’s secrets to embodying one of its icons.
Fresh off his Emmy-winning six-season run on FX’s The Americans, Rhys has signed on to star as legendary fictional criminal defense lawyer Perry Mason in a prospective limited series at HBO. The project is being produced Robert Downey Jr., who was originally eyed to play Mason. (Downey Jr.’s Team Downey shingle has been trying to get a Perry Mason project off the ground for much of the past decade.)Rhys, who will also serve as a producer on the project, will play Mason at a time in his life when he is living check-to-check as a low-rent private investigator. He also finds himself haunted by his wartime experiences in France and is suffering the effects of a broken marriage.
Rolin Jones (The Exorcist) and Ron Fitzgerald (Westworld) will pen the adaptation and serve as co-showrunners.
Here’s the project’s logline:
1932, Los Angeles. While the rest of the country recovers from the Great Depression, this city is booming! Oil! Olympic Games! Talking Pictures! Evangelical Fervor! And a child kidnapping gone very, very wrong! Based on characters created by Erle Stanley Gardner, this limited series follows the origins of American Fiction’s most legendary criminal defense lawyer, Perry Mason. When the case of the decade breaks down his door, Mason’s relentless pursuit of the truth reveals a fractured city and just maybe, a pathway to redemption for himself.
The search is on for a director to helm the limited series.
Perry Mason was most famously played by late actor Raymond Burr, who starred as the defense attorney for nine seasons on CBS’ Perry Mason series (1957–1966) and 26 subsequent TV movies (1985–1993).
Fresh off his Emmy-winning six-season run on FX’s The Americans, Rhys has signed on to star as legendary fictional criminal defense lawyer Perry Mason in a prospective limited series at HBO. The project is being produced Robert Downey Jr., who was originally eyed to play Mason. (Downey Jr.’s Team Downey shingle has been trying to get a Perry Mason project off the ground for much of the past decade.)Rhys, who will also serve as a producer on the project, will play Mason at a time in his life when he is living check-to-check as a low-rent private investigator. He also finds himself haunted by his wartime experiences in France and is suffering the effects of a broken marriage.
Rolin Jones (The Exorcist) and Ron Fitzgerald (Westworld) will pen the adaptation and serve as co-showrunners.
Here’s the project’s logline:
1932, Los Angeles. While the rest of the country recovers from the Great Depression, this city is booming! Oil! Olympic Games! Talking Pictures! Evangelical Fervor! And a child kidnapping gone very, very wrong! Based on characters created by Erle Stanley Gardner, this limited series follows the origins of American Fiction’s most legendary criminal defense lawyer, Perry Mason. When the case of the decade breaks down his door, Mason’s relentless pursuit of the truth reveals a fractured city and just maybe, a pathway to redemption for himself.
The search is on for a director to helm the limited series.
Perry Mason was most famously played by late actor Raymond Burr, who starred as the defense attorney for nine seasons on CBS’ Perry Mason series (1957–1966) and 26 subsequent TV movies (1985–1993).
#2
DVD Talk Godfather & 2020 TOTY Winner
re: Perry Mason (HBO) - S: Matthew Rhys - premieres 6/21/20
I love Matthew Rhys. Certainly interested in this now.

#3
re: Perry Mason (HBO) - S: Matthew Rhys - premieres 6/21/20
Never having read them, does any of this storyline appear in Gardner's books, even as a background reference?
#4
Moderator
re: Perry Mason (HBO) - S: Matthew Rhys - premieres 6/21/20
Hard to say if the plot is pulled from one of the books or not. Gardner wrote 80+ Perry Mason books. The Case of the Crafty Kidnapper and The Case of the Deadly Toy could be potential candidates.
#6
DVD Talk God
re: Perry Mason (HBO) - S: Matthew Rhys - premieres 6/21/20
Officially ordered to Series: https://deadline.com/2019/03/hbo-per...ys-1202580838/
Tim Van Patten, who has directed many HBO shows will direct and serve as EP.
Tim Van Patten, who has directed many HBO shows will direct and serve as EP.
#7
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re: Perry Mason (HBO) - S: Matthew Rhys - premieres 6/21/20
Tatiana Maslany Joins Matthew Rhys in HBO's 'Perry Mason'
https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/li...XuYWiU2TLXewX0
Officially in.
https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/li...XuYWiU2TLXewX0
Officially in.
#9
DVD Talk Hall of Fame
re: Perry Mason (HBO) - S: Matthew Rhys - premieres 6/21/20
I don’t typically sign up for these extra services (I did for the beginning of Game of Thrones), but this one I just might die to the cast alone!
I wonder if it will air this year or next.
I wonder if it will air this year or next.
#10
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re: Perry Mason (HBO) - S: Matthew Rhys - premieres 6/21/20
Highly unlikely that it airs this year.
#11
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re: Perry Mason (HBO) - S: Matthew Rhys - premieres 6/21/20
John Lithgow Joins HBO's Perry Mason Limited Series Opposite Matthew Rhys
https://tvline.com/2019/05/07/john-l...WbjfNAcQwN6bIA
https://tvline.com/2019/05/07/john-l...WbjfNAcQwN6bIA
#12
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re: Perry Mason (HBO) - S: Matthew Rhys - premieres 6/21/20
#13
DVD Talk Godfather & 2020 TOTY Winner
re: Perry Mason (HBO) - S: Matthew Rhys - premieres 6/21/20
Has the entire first season already been shot?
#14
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#15
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re: Perry Mason (HBO) - S: Matthew Rhys - premieres 6/21/20
You know his name, but not his past. The new original series Perry Mason, starring Emmy winner Matthew Rhys, premieres June 21. Based on characters created by Erle Stanley Gardner, this drama series follows the origins of American Fiction’s most legendary criminal defense lawyer, Perry Mason. When the case of the decade breaks down his door, Mason’s relentless pursuit of the truth reveals a fractured city and just maybe, a pathway to redemption for himself.
Perry Mason also stars Tatiana Maslany (Orphan Black) as powerful preacher Sister Alice and John Lithgow (The Crown) as E.B. Jonathan, an attorney and Mason’s semi-regular employer. Robert Patrick (Scorpion), Chris Chalk (Gotham), Shea Whigham (Homecoming), Nate Corddry (Mom), Veronica Falcon (Queen of the South), Jefferson Mays (I Am the Night), Gayle Rankin (GLOW) and Lili Taylor (American Crime) round out the cast.
#16
DVD Talk God
re: Perry Mason (HBO) - S: Matthew Rhys - premieres 6/21/20
That looks awesome.

#17
DVD Talk God
re: Perry Mason (HBO) - S: Matthew Rhys - premieres 6/21/20
Looks great. Love that it's a period show. I'll definitely be watching this summer.
#18
DVD Talk Godfather & 2020 TOTY Winner
re: Perry Mason (HBO) - S: Matthew Rhys - premieres 6/21/20
Funny that HBO and Showtime are having dueling 1930's Los Angeles detective shows going head-to-head.
I am very much looking forward to this one.
Did we know that Perry Mason was a PI before he was a lawyer? Or is he supposed to be a lawyer in this?
I am very much looking forward to this one.
Did we know that Perry Mason was a PI before he was a lawyer? Or is he supposed to be a lawyer in this?
#20
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#21
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re: Perry Mason (HBO) - S: Matthew Rhys - premieres 6/21/20
TVLine watched the first six episodes and gives it an A-. https://tvline.com/2020/06/16/perry-...-matthew-rhys/
I'm very interested in watching this now.
I'm very interested in watching this now.
#22
DVD Talk Legend
re: Perry Mason (HBO) - S: Matthew Rhys - premieres 6/21/20
That would be sick if this became the theme song for the opening credits
#23
DVD Talk Hall of Fame
re: Perry Mason (HBO) - S: Matthew Rhys - premieres 6/21/20
Only “downsides” I’ve read are it’s not in line with the written character and acts more of a precursor to the legal years. I’ve never really seen the originals so not an issue for me!
#24
DVD Talk Legend
#25