Jake Gyllenhaal and Peter Sarsgaard prioritize their family ties both in reality and during filming.
It was time for Gyllenhaal to assist in casting for the upcoming Apple TV+ series "Presumed Innocent," in which he stars and acts as an executive producer. He knew that Sarsgaard, his brother-in-law who's married to Maggie Gyllenhaal, would be a great fit for one of the roles.
"Peter is just such an incredible actor because he requires, within acting or a scene, a kind of honesty, and I think that's the same thing he asks for as a person," Gyllenhaal said during a recent conversation with CNN. "The fictional world you're working with in a project is a whole other deal, and it's a craft we both understand well."
"I feel like I'm a slightly different person when I'm working in general," Sarsgaard mentioned. "It's interesting to interact with someone you know so well in your life in a new setting like that, and we've done a few projects together but not that many overall."
"Presumed Innocent" is an eight-part miniseries inspired by the 1986 novel of the same name by Scott Turow. Earlier, it was turned into a 1990 feature film starring Harrison Ford. This is a courtroom thriller following Rusty Sabich (Gyllenhaal), a Chicago-based attorney who finds himself embroiled in a horrific murder of his coworker.
While they enjoy banter off-camera, on "Presumed Innocent," Gyllenhaal and Sarsgaard's characters are at odds. Sarsgaard plays another attorney in Sabich's office who believes his colleague could be guilty.
Though they work well together onscreen, Gyllenhaal said that they both prioritize their family above everything else. "I think the most critical thing for both of us – and I think I can speak for both of us – is our family and the love for them and safeguarding them and being there for them. That's our top priority," he said.
In the past, the Gyllenhaal siblings have co-starred in the 2001 psychological thriller "Donnie Darko" and several other projects. Most recently, Sarsgaard was in "The Lost Daughter," directed by his spouse Maggie Gyllenhaal. The extended family will continue collaborating, as Gyllenhaal and Sarsgaard have plans to work together again on Maggie's upcoming directorial venture "The Bride!" in 2025.
Sarsgaard didn't go through the usual audition process for his role in "Presumed Innocent."
"He's the producer, so he calls me and asks me if I want to play the part," Sarsgaard said with a laugh. "It's pretty nice."
"Presumed Innocent" is slated to stream on Apple TV+ with the first two episodes on June 12, followed by new episodes every week until July 24.
Donnie Darko
The Lost Daughter
The Bride
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In the world of entertainment, Jake Gyllenhaal and Peter Sarsgaard often prioritize their family ties, ensuring they have time for their loved ones despite their busy schedules. During the filming of "Presumed Innocent," the actor-producer Gyllenhaal wanted to bring Sarsgaard on board, commending his abilities to bring honesty and authenticity to his roles, both on and off-screen.
