Netflix’s The Lincoln Lawyer has been flooring it through the streaming world, and Season 4 is shaping up to be its most thrilling ride yet. The legal drama, centered on the charismatic defense attorney Mickey Haller (Manuel Garcia-Rulfo), has kept fans hooked with its pulse-pounding cases and a Season 3 cliffhanger that left jaws on the floor. Now, a bombshell update has sent shockwaves through the fandom: filming for Season 4 has officially wrapped, signaling a potential release as early as October 2025. This lightning-fast turnaround could spare fans the agony of Netflix’s notorious multi-year gaps between seasons, a problem that has plagued shows like Stranger Things and Squid Game. With a stellar cast, a high-stakes plot based on Michael Connelly’s The Law of Innocence, and new faces like Cobie Smulders and Constance Zimmer, The Lincoln Lawyer Season 4 is poised to deliver courtroom drama like never before. So, what’s the latest, and why is this update such a game-changer?

A Cliffhanger That Hit Like a Freight Train

Since its debut in May 2022, The Lincoln Lawyer has cemented itself as one of Netflix’s most addictive legal thrillers. Adapted from Michael Connelly’s bestselling novels, the series follows Mickey Haller, a Los Angeles defense attorney who runs his practice from the back of his iconic Lincoln Navigator. With his sharp wit, unorthodox methods, and a knack for winning impossible cases, Mickey has become a fan favorite, portrayed with magnetic charm by Manuel Garcia-Rulfo. The show’s blend of gritty courtroom battles, personal drama, and LA noir vibes has earned it critical acclaim, with Season 3 boasting a perfect 100% score on Rotten Tomatoes and 1.6 billion minutes viewed in its first week alone.

Season 3, released on October 17, 2024, adapted Connelly’s The Gods of Guilt and took Mickey to new heights as he tackled the murder case of Julian La Cosse (Devon Graye). The season was a rollercoaster of twists, with Mickey navigating a tangled web of corruption, a budding romance with prosecutor Andrea Freeman (Yaya DaCosta), and the emotional fallout of his client’s guilt. But it was the finale that floored audiences: after winning Julian’s case, Mickey is pulled over by police, who pop the trunk of his powder-blue 1963 Lincoln Continental to reveal the body of his former client, Sam Scales (Christopher Thornton). Framed for murder, Mickey finds himself arrested, setting the stage for a Season 4 that flips the script entirely.

The cliffhanger left fans reeling, with X posts erupting in excitement and dread. “Mickey in jail? I’m not okay!” one user wrote, while another declared, “This is the wildest twist yet!” The stakes couldn’t be higher, and the latest update has only fueled the anticipation.

Filming Wraps Early: A Win Against Netflix’s Delay Curse

The biggest news to hit The Lincoln Lawyer fandom came on June 19, 2025, when co-showrunner Dailyn Rodriguez announced on Instagram that Season 4 had wrapped filming. “Thank you to the most amazing cast, crew, writers, and staff!” she wrote. “We are so lucky to have this family. Congrats on a Season Four wrap! #thelincolnlawyer #lastrong.” Co-showrunner Ted Humphrey echoed her excitement, adding, “We can’t wait to bring it to everyone very soon!” This milestone, just five months after production began in February 2025, is a game-changer for a series that has consistently defied Netflix’s frustrating trend of long hiatuses.

Unlike Stranger Things, which endured three-year gaps between seasons, or Wednesday, which won’t return until mid-2026, The Lincoln Lawyer has maintained a near-yearly release schedule. Season 1 dropped in May 2022, Season 2 in July and August 2023, and Season 3 in October 2024. With filming for Season 4 now complete, the show is on track for a potential late 2025 release—possibly as early as October, based on the three-to-four-month post-production timelines of Seasons 2 and 3. This rapid turnaround is a breath of fresh air for fans accustomed to Netflix’s delays, which have drawn ire for keeping popular shows like Squid Game and All of Us Are Dead off screens for years. “Can’t come soon enough!” one fan commented on IMDb, while another enthused on X, “I CAN NOT WAIT FOR SEASON 4.”

The early wrap is also a testament to the show’s love for its Los Angeles setting. Humphrey and Rodriguez have called The Lincoln Lawyer a “love letter to our city,” noting that filming in LA, especially after recent wildfires, allowed the production to provide “stability and hope” to the community. The season’s night shoots and iconic LA locations, glimpsed in behind-the-scenes photos shared by first camera assistant Joe Cheung, promise to keep the show’s noir aesthetic alive.

A Plot That Puts Mickey in the Hot Seat

Season 4 will adapt The Law of Innocence, the sixth book in Connelly’s series, thrusting Mickey into his most personal case yet. Framed for the murder of Sam Scales, a former client he despised, Mickey is charged with first-degree murder and slapped with an exorbitant $5 million bail by a vindictive judge. Locked up in the Twin Towers Correctional Center, he becomes a target as an officer of the court, forcing him to strategize his defense from behind bars. With the help of his loyal team—Lorna Crane (Becki Newton), Cisco Wojciechowski (Angus Sampson), Izzy Letts (Jazz Raycole), and ex-wife Maggie McPherson (Neve Campbell)—Mickey must uncover who framed him and why, all while facing a corrupt system and a damning case against him.

The season promises to be “the most emotional one yet,” according to Garcia-Rulfo, who told Variety that Mickey’s predicament hits close to home. Co-showrunner Ted Humphrey teased that the case will be “the biggest and most personal challenge Mickey has ever faced,” invoking the mantra from Mickey’s father: “There’s no worse client than an innocent man.” The twist? Mickey, who famously warned that a lawyer who represents himself is a fool, must now defend himself. Lorna, fresh off passing the California Bar Exam in Season 3, will take on a larger role as a lawyer, potentially handling her own cases, while Maggie’s return as a series regular promises to deepen the family dynamics. “Maggie is the true love of Mickey’s life,” Humphrey told ScreenRant, hinting at emotional stakes that could see the exes reconnect amidst the chaos.

A Star-Studded Cast with Fresh Faces

The core cast is back in full force, with Garcia-Rulfo leading as Mickey, alongside Newton, Raycole, Sampson, and Campbell. Neve Campbell’s expanded role as Maggie fixes one of Season 3’s biggest complaints—her limited appearances—ensuring the family aspect of the story takes center stage. Elliott Gould returns as Legal Siegel, Mickey’s mentor, and Krista Warner reprises her role as his daughter, Hayley Haller. But it’s the new additions that have fans buzzing. Cobie Smulders (How I Met Your Mother, Avengers) joins in a mysterious role, with speculation that she could play a key figure in Mickey’s trial, possibly a prosecutor or a witness with ties to the conspiracy. Constance Zimmer (UnREAL, Entourage), cast as prosecutor Dana Berg, shared her excitement on Instagram, calling the role “one of my most unique characters.” Other newcomers include Emmanuelle Chriqui (Superman & Lois) as Jeanine Ferrigno, Jason O’Mara (Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.) as Jack Gilroy, and Javon Johnson (American Soul) as Carter Gates. Even celebrity chef Nancy Silverton will cameo as herself, adding a dash of LA flair.

The absence of Yaya DaCosta’s Andrea Freeman, Mickey’s Season 3 love interest, has raised eyebrows, with fans wondering if her exit is tied to the book’s plot or a creative choice. In The Law of Innocence, Mickey’s half-brother Harry Bosch plays a key role, but with Amazon owning the Bosch rights, the show will likely pivot to Maggie or another character to fill that investigative void.

Why This Update Matters

The early filming wrap isn’t just a logistical win—it’s a promise that The Lincoln Lawyer is committed to keeping fans engaged without the long waits that have frustrated viewers of other Netflix hits. With 203.8 million viewing hours in its first month and a consistent Top 10 presence, Season 3 proved the show’s staying power. The series’ ability to adapt Connelly’s novels—The Brass Verdict (Season 1), The Fifth Witness (Season 2), and The Gods of Guilt (Season 3)—while taking creative liberties has kept it fresh, and Season 4’s focus on The Law of Innocence promises to push Mickey to his limits. With seven books in the series and Connelly hinting at an eighth, the show could run for years, especially with Garcia-Rulfo’s enthusiasm for the role. “People love it,” he told Variety, noting fans’ excitement while he filmed Jurassic World: Rebirth.

As The Lincoln Lawyer heads into post-production, the buzz is palpable. Will Mickey clear his name? Who framed him, and why? And can the show maintain its breakneck pace in a streaming landscape notorious for delays? For now, fans can breathe easy knowing that Season 4 is on track to deliver answers—and drama—sooner than expected. With its slick storytelling, powerhouse cast, and a plot that puts Mickey in the fight of his life, The Lincoln Lawyer Season 4 is ready to hit the gas and leave Netflix’s delay problem in the dust. Buckle up—this case is going to be a wild ride.