From this Wednesday March 6, TF1 is broadcasting “The Jacob Barber Affair”, a mini-series with Chris Evans which recounts the fight of a father to prove the innocence of his son accused of murder. Did you know it was adapted from a novel?
In The Jacob Barber Affair, broadcast from this Wednesday March 6 on TF1, Chris Evans swaps his Captain America costume for that of a father, who will see his life collapse when Jacob (Jaeden Matell), his 14-year-old son is accused of the murder of one of his classmates.
For 8 episodes, he will try to prove his innocence, but he will little by little discover certain secrets which will sow doubt. This eight-episode mini-series, directed by Morten Tyldum – nominated for an Oscar for best director for Imitation Game – is adapted from a novel written by William Landay.
Having become a real bestseller in the United States, the book is also published in France under the title Defend Jacob by Michel Lafon.
A prosecutor turned author
Before becoming a successful author, William Landay was himself a prosecutor for many years, like the character played by Chris Evans. Between 2003 and 2007, he continued his activities as a lawyer, and became increasingly interested in literature.
During this period, he published two detective novels inspired by his daily life, Mission Flats And The Strangler. It was when he became a father that he decided to devote himself solely to his profession as a writer.
He then becomes interested in every parent’s nightmare: the accusation of a child in a murder case. In an interview conducted by his publishing house, Random House, he explains: “Defending Jacob allowed me to link two parts of my life: that of criminal law and that of raising my children in an uneventful suburb..”
A story based on his own experience
In this novel, and therefore the mini-series The Jacob Barber Affair, William Landay explores above all the question of heredity and the importance of genetics in violence. The writer admits to having based himself on his own experience to describe the procedures, the settings, to establish an atmosphere and to provide details on the behavior of the accused and that of their loved ones.
However, he was not inspired by any legal case to respect the families and victims he met throughout his career.
Watch three episodes of The Jacob Barber Affair this Wednesday, March 6 from 9:10 p.m. on TF1.