The Lincoln Lawyer Is Ending, But HBO Has Already Found Its Perfect Replacement

The Lincoln Lawyer is nearing its end, but there’s already something else up the streaming sleeve that will hopefully take its place. As the fifth and final season of the Netflix series approaches—a reveal that was announced in mid-May—the person responsible for adapting it from Michael Connelly’s books of the same name, David E. Kelley, is hard at work on a new project for HBO Max.

Given Kelley’s success in adapting one of Connelly’s other works, he’ll look to dip into that pool once again with Welcome to Catalina, a new crime drama based on Connelly’s 2024 bestselling novel Nightshade, according to Deadline.

It goes without saying that Kelley has become one of Hollywood’s most trusted names when it comes to bringing Connelly’s gripping crime stories to life. The Lincoln Lawyer has earned a loyal following over four seasons thanks to its sharp legal battles, compelling characters, and Manuel Garcia-Rulfo’s acclaimed performance as defense attorney Mickey Haller.

Now, fans are hoping that Welcome to Catalina can capture the same magic. Unlike The Lincoln Lawyer, which centers on courtroom drama, the new series follows Detective Stilwell, a Los Angeles County sheriff’s detective who is reassigned to Catalina Island. What initially appears to be a quiet posting quickly spirals into a dangerous investigation involving murder, corruption, and long-buried secrets lurking beneath the island’s picturesque setting.

The project also marks another major collaboration between Kelley and HBO Max, a platform that has increasingly invested in prestige crime dramas. With Connelly’s storytelling and Kelley’s proven track record, expectations are already high despite the series still being in development.

For The Lincoln Lawyer fans, the timing couldn’t be more interesting. As Netflix prepares to close the book on Mickey Haller’s journey with its fifth and final season, viewers won’t have to wait long before another Michael Connelly adaptation arrives to fill the void.

Whether Welcome to Catalina can match the success of The Lincoln Lawyer remains to be seen, but with David E. Kelley once again steering the ship, HBO Max may already have its next must-watch crime drama in the making.