Robert Downey, Jr. has been attached to a revival of the classic television series Perry Mason since 2011, and now the acclaimed actor and producer has offered a first look at the HBO reboot.In a brief teaser trailer, Matthew Rhys is shown as the eponymous criminal defense lawyer, ominously peering through a darkened window while wearing his period-appropriate clothes to match the 1932 setting.
The upcoming HBO series will be produced by Downey, Jr. and his wife Susan Downey through their production company Team Downey, which will introduce the classic character to a new generation. Downey, Jr. was attached to star in the revival series before dropping out in 2018 due to his feature film commitments at the time.
The Americans star Matthew Rhys was cast to replace him in early 2019, with the revival series expected to follow Perry Mason as he investigates a mystery poised to upend 1932 Los Angeles as the city continues to recover from the Great Depression. The series is based on the novel series by Erle Stanley Garner, which received its own popular television adaptation in 1957.
Starring Matthew Rhys, Tatiana Maslany and John Lithgow, Perry Mason is expected to premiere on HBO later this year.