William Hurt will be on Trial with Billy Bob Thornton

Trial stars Thornton as attorney Billy McBride, who goes from a corner office at his own firm to setting up residence on a bar stool. The once-respectable lawyer is now only on retainer to his ex-wife, who sends him the occasional case. His career is seemingly revived when a young attorney (who we assume will be played by Thirlby) asks for his help on a wrongful death case.

And that’s where Hurt comes in—he’ll play Donald Cooper, a high-profile lawyer from McBride’s old firm who will defend the person or company on trial. Cooper will presumably dazzle the jury with legal maneuvers and distract opposing counsel with a different case (of Jack Daniels). But before he plays a blue-chip attorney, Hurt will finish filming his role as Hrothgar in that Beowulf adaptation we’ve learned is actually happening.