Maria Bello has been cast opposite Billy Bob Thornton in Trial, the upcoming Amazon drama currently on track for a 10-episode order at the streaming service. The legal drama comes from legal drama wizard David E. Kelley, the creator of Picket Fences, Chicago Hope, The Practice, Ally McBeal, Boston Public, Boston Legal, and Harry’s Law who co-wrote Trial with Practice producer Jonathan Shapiro. Madam Secretary executive producer David Semel is directing the pilot and executive producing alongside Shapiro and Kelley.
Trial follows Billy McBride (Thornton), a once-powerful lawyer whose life starts to crumble after he loses a case dealing with an innocent kid who was murdered. His guilt drives him to alcoholism, which drives his wife away. His longtime partner Donald Cooper (played by William Hurt) turns against him and pushes him out of their law firm. Like most doomed and drunk men on prestige dramas, all Billy has left is his charisma. He brings a case against his former partner and starts to find some of the old Billy. Bello will play Bill’s ex-wife Julie McBride, who is also a smart and successful attorney. Bello is currently in South Africa shooting The Journey Is The Destination, a film about murdered photojournalist Dan Eldon.