The Lincoln Lawyer series on Netflix is now two seasons deep, but is the Netflix series connected to the 2011 The Lincoln Lawyer movie? The Lincoln Lawyer TV series stars Manuel Garcia-Rulfo, Neve Campbell, Angus Sampson, and Becki Newton, whereas the 2011 The Lincoln Lawyer movie was fronted by Matthew McConaughey with Marisa Tomei, William H. Macy, and Ryan Phillippe, leading to confusion over whether the projects are linked. After two seasons, the Netflix series still has some viewers confused over its relation to The Lincoln Lawyer movie.

The Lincoln Lawyer movie from 2011 follows the defense attorney Mickey Haller (McConaughey) as he works on criminal cases in LA County while operating out of the back of his Lincoln Town Car (a vehicle that gives Haller his nickname). Haller is hired to represent Louis Roulet (Phillippe), a wealthy real estate agent accused of assaulting a sex worker. Things get more complicated as Haller learns of a connection to a past case where a case led to an innocent man, Jesus Menendez, being sent to jail on a life sentence. When it comes to The Lincoln Lawyer movie vs. series, there are many similarities, but are they connected?

The Netflix Show Isn’t Connected To The Lincoln Lawyer Movie

Mickey Haller in front of blurred lights in The Lincoln Lawyer

Netflix’s series is not directly connected to the 2011 movie, as it is neither a sequel nor a remake. Rather, it is simply an adaptation of the same series of novels: The Lincoln Lawyer series by Michael Connelly. The Lincoln Lawyer movie starring McConaughey is based on the 2005 novel of the same name in which Michael Connelly first introduced attorney Michael “Mickey” Haller Jr. Netflix’s The Lincoln Lawyer series primarily draws on the novel’s sequel, The Brass Verdict, originally published in 2007. However, the series cleverly puts even more distance between itself and The Lincoln Lawyer movie.

Netflix’s The Lincoln Lawyer is also not connected to Bosch, which is based on the same books. Netflix adapts the second book, but acts as though the events of the first book never happened. That removes the risk of it being read as a sequel to The Lincoln Lawyer movie. At the end of the original 2005 novel, Mickey Haller is shot, and by the start of The Brass Verdict, he has gone through recovery and has been absent from practicing law for over a year after he became addicted to painkillers. The Lincoln Lawyer on Netflix replaces Haller’s injury with a surfing injury, explaining his absence and addiction without the need for The Lincoln Lawyer movie plot to be rehashed.

The Lincoln Lawyer Movie Vs. Series Differences

Mickey at his desk in The Lincoln Lawyer

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When it comes to The Lincoln Lawyer movie vs. series, there are several more striking differences to separate the two. The series is more accurate to the source material than the movie, as the Netflix show’s Mickey is Mexican and is a lot closer to the novel’s conception of the lawyer, whereas the movie went for bankability by casting Matthew McConaughey over faithfulness to the novel. A big portion of the series explores Mickey’s heritage, but The Lincoln Lawyer movie is more focused on the lawsuit at hand.

The different creative choices and filmmaking styles give The Lincoln Lawyer movie and the series wildly contrasting aesthetics and tones too. The movie has a hip-hop-heavy soundtrack, which helped create a more pulse-pounding environment, whereas the series’ soundtrack is more bluesy, creating a coolheaded atmosphere. The film is also full of shakycam, which helps increase tension, but the Netflix series is more in line with the steadicam shooting of TV shows.