The Jacob Barber Case on TF1: Did you know the series was adapted from a novel?

In The Case of Jacob Barber, airing this Wednesday, March 6 on TF1, Chris Evans swaps his Captain America costume for that of a father who will see his life fall apart when his 14-year-old son, Jacob (Jaden Mattel), is framed. about the murder of one of his classmates.

Over the course of 8 episodes, he will try to prove his innocence, but little by little, he will discover secrets that will cast doubt on him. This eight-episode mini-series, directed by Morten Tyldham – nominated for an Academy Award for Best Director for The Imitation Game – is adapted from the novel by William Landey.

A true bestseller in the United States, the book was also published in France under the title Protect Jacob by Michel Lafon.

The prosecutor became the author

Before becoming a successful author, William Landay was a prosecutor himself for many years, just like Chris Evans’ character. In 2003-2007, he continued his work as a lawyer and became more and more interested in literature.

During this period, he published two detective novels inspired by his everyday life. Mission apartments and Drowned. When he became a father, he decided to devote himself only to the profession of a writer.

Then he becomes interested in every parent’s nightmare: a child accused of murder. In an interview conducted by his publisher, Random House, he explains: “Defending Jacob allowed me to connect two parts of my life: criminal justice and raising my children in a safe suburb..”

A story based on my own experience

In this novel, and therefore the mini-series The Case of Jacob Barber, William Landay primarily explores the issue of heredity and the importance of genetics in violence. The writer admits that he relied on his own experience, described the procedures, settings, created the atmosphere and provided details about the behavior of the accused and their relatives.

However, he was not inspired by any legal work to honor the families and victims he met throughout his career.

Watch three episodes of The Jacob Barber Case this Wednesday, March 6 from 9.10pm on TF1.